Dan Wolf - runs and wickets for Paignton in the win over Brixham

CORNWOOD thumped Ivybridge by 127 runs in the derby clash at Oak Park to remain clear at the top of the A Division.

Opener Aaron Richards made a patient 69 in Cornwood’s total of 203 all out.

Matt Skeemer bagged four wickets and Elliott Staddon had three more as the Corns skittled Ivybridge for 76.

The derby day result puts Cornwood nine points clear of Torquay at the top of the table.

Ivybridge have hit rock bottom in the table as Chudleigh went past them by beating Plympton by 11 runs.

Richards did an admirable job for the Corns, steering them to 120 for four before James Bullock (2-32) prised him out.

Matt Butterworth (23) and Craig Harris (32no) moved the score along in the latter overs.

Harry Solomon (3-30) was the pick of the Ivybridge bowlers.

Skeemer (4-26) and Adam Goodliffe (2-19) got into their bowling stride early as Ivybridge slid to six for four. 

It was managed decline after that with Goodliffe and Staddon (3-11) chipping the wickets away.

Harvey Johnson’s 22 not out was one of only two double-figure scores in the Ivybridge innings.

PLYMPTON came up short on the chase at Chudleigh, where the home side’s 46-over total of 184 for nine was just out of reach.

Skippers past and present Ed Foreman (53) and Matt Heather (25) were the main Chudleigh run scorers in a recovery from seven for two.

Foreman anchored the enterprise up to 136 for seven, when he was lbw to Jacob Caunter.

The Chudleigh tail wagged to good effect as Rob Clarke, Mark Russell and Matt Ball put on 48 for the last three wickets – crucial runs in the grand scheme of things.

Caunter, Steve Raven and Tim George had two wickets each for Plympton.

Plympton opener David Ackford made up for losing partner Andy Walter in the second over with an anchorman’s knock of 60 off 107 balls.

At 152 for four with Ackford still there and Dave Wrench (40) settled, the odds were on Plympton.

Then Ball ran-out Ackford and it all went pear-shaped for Plympton.

Although Rob Clarke (4-35) spun through the lower order, Plympton still had a chance while Wrench survived. 

Wrench was ninth out on 173 and last man Craig Donohue went first ball. Game over.

Losing skipper Donohue said what seemed an attainable target proved anything but

“After bowling well up front, keeping the score down and taking wickets, we let them get 25-30 too many on a not great deck,” said Donohue. 

“On the chase we lost wickets at key times which stopped us gaining much momentum.

“Dave Ackford carried on his good run of form with the bat and was unluckily run-out backing up off the bowler’s boot. 

“A disappointing loss but no point in dwelling on it as we have a big game against Torquay next.”

Plympton stay fifth in the table, but are substantially closer to the bottom two (+25) than the top two (-45).

A seven-wicket defeat by visiting Abbotskerswell has left Bideford living dangerously in the bottom half of the A Division table.

Only eight points separate Bideford from Chudleigh in the second relegation place.

Bideford were bowled out for 123 in the 38th of their 50 overs – James Ford top scoring on 32.

Ford played the anchorman until he was fifth out with the score on 90.

Dribs and drabs – Ollie Hannam made 16, Martin Stewart a patient 17 – got Bideford up to 123.

Nick Watkin (5-15 off 9) was bowler of the day for Abbots. Elliott Adams took three for six from seven overs.

Opener James Westlake hit a run-a-ball 55 to  get Abbots up to 90 for two.  Watkin (24no) took Abbots the rest of the way.

Bideford’s Cameron Atkinson had two wickets for 26 runs.

Paul Heard, the Bideford captain, described it as: “A performance to forget for us.”

Heard added: “We didn't turn up in any discipline. No one took any responsibility with the bat and we were very flat in the field and with the ball.”

It does not get any easier for Bideford this Saturday as they are away to unbeaten leaders Cornwood.

TORQUAY stay hard on the heels of Cornwood at the top of the A Division after an ultimately comfortable 66-run win over Budleigh Salterton.

There were runs right down the order from Torquay as they piled up 250 for four in 49 overs.

Opener Josh Hunt (46) was second out at 98 having put on 49 with Tim Western (19) and 49 more with skipper George Allen (59).

Allen and Mitch Pugh (50) added 72 and there was a final assault on the bowling from Tom Drake (35no) and Franco Kasner (27no), who rattled off 51.

Budleigh seamers Adam Jones (1-24) and Trevor Anning (0-30) got through 18 tidy overs. Most of the rest took some punishment.

Marc Troman (40) gave Budleigh a start, but his demise at 70 for three prompted a mini-collapse to 89 for six.

Jack England (25) and Alex Richardson (44) went someway towards getting Budleigh out of a pickle, but the damage was done.

A run-out dismissed England to break a 54-run stand and it went downhill fast from then.

Young off-spinner Harry Passenger (3-25) was the pick of the Torquay bowlers and ran out England.

Budleigh are at home to Abbotskerswell this Saturday.

PAIGNTON sent Brixham tumbling to a 133-run defeat in the derby clash at Boundary Park.

Paignton’s total of 252 for seven always looked a few too many for Brixham, who were bowled out for 119 in reply.

The result keeps Paignton third in the table and leaves Brixham one place and three points off the drop slots.

All Paignton’s top for got to 30 or more, starring with an opening stand of 103 between Noah Wright (35) and Dan Wolf (69).

The runs kept coming from Kevin Renecke (44), skipper Richard Ashworth (30) and Chris Kelmere (27).

Dan Bullock (3-30) had the best Brixham bowling figures.

Brixham got as far as 91 for three in reply with Abdul Muzammil making a top score of 41.

Kelmere (3-26) slowed Brixham up then Wolf took five for 22 as six wickets went for 18 runs scored.

Paignton, who are away to Chudleigh on Saturday, are four points behind second-placed Torquay.

Brixham will be looking for a win at bottom side Ivybridge.

Paignton captain Ashworth felt scoring 250 in a reduced allocation of 43 overs put his side in the driving seat.

He added: “Noah and Wolfie gave us the perfect start and Kev showed his class once again. 

“It was nice to see Chris Kelmere come in a hit a few boundaries at the end as well. “

On the second half of the game, Ashworth said: “”It was a strange second innings. 

“Brixham never really looked like they wanted to go for it to be honest. 

“We chipped away,  bowled good areas and caught well.

“I was really pleased for Dan Wolf, whose five wickets were well deserved.”