BABBACOMBE are on their way back to the B Division for the first time since 2005 after beating Dartington & Totnes by 56 runs to clinch promotion.

The Walls Hill side have been out in front since week four and have seen off challenges from Bridestowe and Ashburton to secure the C Division West title.

In a division with only one promotion place and no play-off this year for the East and West runners-up due to league reorganisation, you got nothing for finishing second.

Steve Lewis (46) and Damon Calland (30) put on 81 for Babbacombe’s second wicket and with Dean Peall making 26 they reached 147 all out.

Spin was king for D&T with Chris Cook (4-20) and Harry Baxendale (3-23) leading the way.

Darts were all out for 91 in reply – Kevan Throgmorton (25) and Elliot Miller (24) having the only scores of note – losing their way from 54 for two to 71 for six.

Calland had four for six from eight overs and Sam Powell took three for 31.

Babbacombe face the long trek to Chagford this Saturday. D&T are at home to Stoke Gabriel.

ASHBURTON heaped more relegation pressure on Shaldon when they beat them by 122 runs.

Plymouth Civil Service are down already and two from Stoke Gabriel (169pts), South Devon (157) and Shaldon (158) will be going with them after this Saturday’s final round of fixtures.

Shaldon face Bridestowe (3^rd), Stoke are at Dartington (6^th) and South Devon are at home to Kingsbridge (5^th).

Lloyd White (77) and Tom Durman (41) put on 91 for Ashes’  second wicket and with Tristan Wakefield (63) and Ash Berry (33) chipping in a total of 290 for six was posted.

Shaldon had it all to do at 91 for five – Steve Arkell in and out for 33 by then – and the best they could manage was 40 from Carl Woolnough in a total of 168 all out.

Matt Churchill was the leading Ashburton bowler with four for 35.

SOUTH Devon gave themselves a slender chance to dodge the drop when they won at Stoke Gabriel by 94 runs.

It was South Devon’s first win since beating Ashburton in week five and without it they would be down already.

A win over Kingsbridge is a must this Saturday – as are defeats for Shaldon and Stoke Gabriel.

Although Stoke are not in the bottom three yet, they go into the last round of games weakened by a player shortage which includes the premature return home of overseas batter Dan Pandolfo.

Richard Beaumont struck 52 not out to get South Devon on the move again after they slumped to 80 for six. They made 166 all out.

Wickets were shared between five bowlers.

Off-spinner James Allen then turned in a season’s best C Division West bowling performance of eight for 12 as Stoke were skittled for 72.

KINGSBRIDGE picked up the anticipated win over relegated Plymouth CS&R, but it was by no means a formality.

Opener and captain James Westlake made 87 to guide Kingsbridge towards a total of 205 all out

Pick of the bowlers for Civil with four for 46 was Simon Light.

Civil captain Dan Winsor then helped himself to a century as his side set off in pursuit. No one else made more than nine, but 55 extras including 38 wides kept it interesting.

At 182 for six Civil were favourites, then Winsor fell to Olly Robinson (3-26) and the tail folded to 199 all out.

BRIDESTOWE came out on top in the third-versus-fourth game with Chagford.

Chagford were in trouble early in thier innings with Gary Sizmur (1-39) and Ryan Dennis (1-10) picking up wickets.

J P van Rensburg (78) was the only Chagford batsman to get going, smashing seven sixes in his innings.

Alex Jopling (2-22) and Dan Fogerty (1-8) spun through the middle order.

Del Lammonby (20) provided some late support but Tom McGrattan (3-25) finished off the innings with Chagford bowled out for 147 in the 33rd over.

Bridestowe also struggled against the new ball with J P van Rensburg (3-17) removing divisonal top run scorer Sizmur for 0.

James Ewen (25) got the score to 33-2 but fell to van Rensburg straight after tea.

Rhys Palmer (70no) and Phil Hatton (29no) put on an unbeaten 115 to seal the game for Bridestowe without further mishap.