Ben Abrahams celebrates his ton for Exeter II against Alphington<br>credit: https://www.ppauk.com/photo/2001720/

ISAAC Thomas, Nick Gingell and Nick Mansfield all scored half-centuries as the Sidmouth run machine rolled out another big score, this time against Feniton.

Thomas (57) and Cooke (43) gave Sidmouth an 89-run start then Gingell (69) helped Thomas take it to 141 for two,

Mansfield (52), Byron Knowles (34) and skipper Anthony Griffiths (31) took the final tally to 316 for six.

Opener Graham Tucker batted through for an unbeaten 81 as Feniton made it to 231 for eight and maximum batting points.

Tucker was supported by son Jack – he made 53 – in a stand of 886 for the sixth wicket. Jon French chipped in with 32 not out.

Sidmouth’s 85-run win keeps them top of the table, 24 points clear of Kilmington in second.

For Feniton skipper Jon Pyle there was plenty to be positive about.

 “Sidmouth had five or six players with 1st XI experience this season and we feel we gave them a decent game. 

“We would have given them an even closer one had we not given each of their top four batsmen a life!”

ALPHINGTON’S run of form continued with a 16-run win over city rivals Exeter 2ndXI at the Chronicles – click here for Tom Sandberg’s photo gallery

That’s four wins on the reel for the Alphas and not a point dropped in any of them as they have clambered up to fifth in the table.

Alphington's Matt Taylor appeals in the game against ExeterThe top three were solid for Alphington with Luke Phillips (32) and Mark Halse (46) setting the tone with a stand of 62.

Matt Taylor went in a first wicket down and when he was dismissed for 91 had taken the score up to 216 for six, The finally tally was 239 for nine.

Luke Unsworth (3-39), was the most successful Exeter bowler. Harry Conway (0-34) the most economical.

Exeter’s county age-group opener Ben Abrahams then rattled off 125 as the County Grounders set off in pursuit.

Jamie Telford made 29 – he and Abraham put on 69 – but there was little worthwhile support in the middle order. Halse (4-40) got in the way of Exeter’s chase.

Abraham literally went all the way to the end. He was last out with 10 balls remaining, run-out by Tom Weeks.

CLYST Hydon’s three-wicket defeat by Braunton has left them with a mountain to climb in the second half of the season to avoid relegation.

Hydon’s eighth defeat in nine stars left them 60 points away from safety in a division with three relegation places.

Mike Cliff (26) and Graham Trude (39) got Cully up to 130 for four against Braunton, supported by Clinton Lewis and Sinthuran Thevaraj with a brace of 18s.

Clyst lost six wickets for five runs on their way to 135 all out as Jon Baglow (5-27) and Martin Smith (2-10) sent them sliding.

After Baglow (21), Mike Taylor (45) and Callum Mitchell (26) got Braunton up to 113 for three, wickets started to tumble to James Billington (3-22) and Lewis (2-37).

Braunton were glad of Dan Brierley (14) for taking them from 118 for six to within three runs of victory.

WHIMPLE were six-wicket winners over Ottery St Mary in the East Devon derby.

Ottery recovered from 78 for eight to make 168 all out – Jody Clements (63) and Joe Birch (20) getting them off the hook.

The Whimple bowlers bossed proceedings with Cameron Kidd (4-28) topping the returns with while Neil Maud had three for 33 and Stephen Hathaway two for 22.

Just four wickets were lost in the successful run chase with David Culshaw top scoring with an unbeaten 63 and skipper Ben Silk was not out 33 when the winning line was crossed. There was also a contribution of 26 from Kevin Thompson.

Said winning skipper Silk: “We had them seven down for 78, but they batted well in the latter stages and would probably have thought 168 was competitive.

“We knew it wasn’t and, as long as we were able to see off the new ball we felt we’d complete a successful run chase and so it proved.”

KILMINGTON stay second in the table behind leaders Sidmouth after walloping Budleigh Salterton 2nd XI by 181 runs.

Opener Tom Gooding stroked an unbeaten 184 – 26 fours, four sixes – in Kilmington’s 331 for four and put on 146 for the second wicket with Matt Pile (61).

There was an unbroken fifth-wicket stand of 92 with Alex Rockett (22no).

Budleigh, who were 77 for six after Pile (2-6) and Matt Reed (2-32) got after them, were glad that Joe Marley (47) and Luke Jefferson (35no) hung around to add 34.

Once Rob Crabb (2-42) removed Marley, Budleigh subsided to 150 all out.

Kilmington skipper Brett Garner spoke in glowing terms about the innings from Tom Gooding.

He said: “It was a superb knock. We spoke before the game about the need for somebody to dig in and hold up an end and score big and that is precisely what he did. 

“It was a very controlled innings and, had he not got bogged down at one stage, he’d surely have got what would have been a richly deserved double ton.”

Now the league season has reached halfway, how does the Kilmington skipper see things at this stage? 

“Seven wins and two defeats really ought to be eight and one and then we’d be nearer to Sidmouth than the 25 points that currently separate us,” he said.

“On match day one - the opening game with Braunton - saw us without six or seven regulars and we duly lost, but since then only Sidmouth II have got the better of us.”

He continued: “Its frustrating that there’s only one promotion spot up for grabs, but we do not intend to give up on making it ours just yet.”

Celebration time for Alphington's Stuart Shaw after taking a wicket in the win over Exeter 2nd XI