Martin Causey making runs for Ashburton in the win over Chagford

ASHBURTON inched towards safety in the C Division West when they defeated fellow strugglers Chagford by two wickets.

Ashes are still in the bottom three, but just three points from safety now.

Chagford remain second from bottom, 15 points behind Ashburton and 19 points adrift of Cornwood, the team they have to get past.

Skipper Derek Lammonby opened up for Chagford and was the last man out for 77 in their 45-over total of 166 for eight.

Along the way there as a stand of 69 between the skipper and his son Will, who made 18.

Akif Sohail (2-26) and Dom Durman (2-20) bowled with control, so did Chris Yeo mid-innings, and Lloyd White (3-11) prevented a few partnerships developing.

Ashburton were an unimpressive 32 for four after an early shooing from Callum Worth (4-45), but rebuilt through Matt Churchill (34), Martin Causey (22) and James Rush (23).

When the chips were down at 133 for seven, Durman (17) and Sohail (23no) produced a match-winning stand of 32.

Ashley Berry, the Ashburton captain, felt it was an important win in the context of the team’s season.

He added: “By far the best we've been in the field and it's great to see the depth in the batting we know we have. 

“Akif looks a handy acquisition and paired up with Dom very well with the new ball. 

“I'm delighted that the maturity Matt and James showed with the bat to see us home. 

“Hopefully, now we can build on this foundation and string some results together.”

The next test comes at Plympton this Saturday.

CORNWOOD II ran into former Devon spinner Jeremy Christophers when they met Bovey Tracey at Oak Park – and paid a high price.

Jamie Bailey had a field day with the ball when Cornwood bowled, taking five wickets for 22 run to help dismissed Bovey for 163.

Key knocks for Bovey came from Derek Perry (42), Reuben Stanley (26) and Sam Russell (20).

Cornwood reached 84 for three in reply thanks to James Richardson (24), James Horgan (20) and Dan Piddock (16). Then the wheels fell off.

Christophers wheeled away to take five wickets for 11 runs as the Corns collapsed from 84 for three to 87 all out.

TAIL-end Charlies Ben Hartridge and Nick Dennis got Dartington & Totnes over the line in a nail-biting finish at Shaldon.

Will Moore (58) and Karl Blackburn (48) were Shaldon’s top leading scorers in a total of 222 all out. Dan Woolnough (30) and skipper Todd Ballman (27) chipped in too before Tyler Walton (4-49) was largely responsible for the last five wickets going for 26 runs.

Darts were seven for three on the chase after a battering from Ryan Bougourd (4-31), but recovered to 162 for five through Chris Cook (78), Harry Baxendale (26) and Charlie Nicholas (23).

Another collapse – Moore (2-38) and Ross Abraham (2-46) the architects – reduced D&T to 173 for nine.

Last pair Hartridge (22no) and Dennis (22no) put on exactly 50 to win the game with four balls left.

BRIDESTOWE edged past Kingsbridge by one wicket in a close game at Millaton.

James Fletcher (64) and Freddie Ford (45) put on 119 for the first Kingsbridge wicket.

Alex Jopling eventually broke the partnership with the wicket of Fletcher and a direct hit run out from Jack Hatton removed Ford soon after.

The King's innings fell away from there with Jopling (1-10), Ryan Dennis (1-26) and Gary Sizmur (3-24) containing them to 203 all out.

James Ewen (16) and Gary Sizmur (23) put on 36 before the former was run out attempting an optimistic two.

Bridestowe slipped to 48 or four with Neal Peach (2-33) picking up a couple of wickets.

Phil Hatton (42), Jack Hatton (32), and Pat Ewen (28) batted Bridestowe back into the game despite interference from Bhanu De Silva (5-23).

Bridestowe collapsed again from 191 for six to 196 or nine, leaving last pair Alex Jopling and Dale Harris to make eight to win. Two boundaries from Jopling did it.

PLYMPTON II came off second best by 171 runs away to C Division West promotion chasers Lewdown.

Harry Geering hammered a century, former Albion rugby player Billy Searle hit 4 and Tom Pengelly made 30 as Lewdown raced to 311 for six.

Plympton struggled to 140 all out in reply with no one making more than Josiah Caunter (19).

The wickets were shared with three each for Jack Brady (3-22) and Nick Smith (3-22) and two for James Weeks on a rare bowl in the 1stXI.

 Plympton remain rock bottom without a win in six starts.