BOVEY Tracey banished any lingering doubts about winning the C Division West title when they crushed Ashburton by 107 runs on the Varwell Field.
Going into round 17, Shaldon Optimists still had an outside chance of catching Bovey for top spot and the lone promotion place it carries.
By the time Bovey completed their win at Ashburton news had already flitered through that Shaldon had lost at Bridestowe and were too far behind to catch up.
There were half-centuries for opener George Yabsley and veteran Derek Perry – and a near miss for Tom Andrew (48) in Bovey’s tally of 238 for seven. Dan Green made 33 in a hurry.
Ashes slumped to 46 for four – Perry (2-41) and Ollie Clifford-Bourne (2-15) doing the damage – then recovered to 106 for five thanks to Martin Causey (39) and James Rush (24).
Jeremy Christophers (2-10) broke the stand the Taylor Ingham-Hill (4-34) whipped out four of the last five as Ashes collapsed to 131 all out.
VETERAN all-rounder Chris Cook was an easy pick as man of the match for his staring role in Dartington & Totnes’ 57-run win at Lewdown.
Cook made a top score of 40, and Matt Sevior supported him with 38 in a stand of 69 for the fourth wicket, as 10-man D&T mustered 155 for eight.
Tom Pengelly (4-44) was Lewdown’s main wicket taker, although Nick Smith impressed with none for 13 off nine overs.
Lewdown got to 92 or five before Cook decimated their batting by performing the hat-trick.
Four wickets fell on 92 as Cook cleaned up on his way to a six-for-22 haul. Harry Baxendale ended it on 98 by bowling Harry Williams.
Darts are safe from the threat of relegation now, but Lewdown could be in trouble if they lose to Bovey Tracey 2nd XI this Saturday and Cornwood 2nd XI win at Shaldon to go past them.
PLYMPTON 2nd XI, who are already down with Chagford, were 67-run losers at home to Kingsbridge.
James Ford (56) and Ashley Treeby (62) top scored for Kingsbridge in their 45-over tally of 226 for four.
Tim George – 1-22 off nine – was Plympton’s most effective bowler.
Oliver Goulder (30) and Alex Carr (40) gave Plympton hope at first but Freddie Ford (4-32) and Sam Rhymes (3-16) soon snuffed that out.
Ben Phillips (33) had the only other score of note as Plympton subsided to 159 all out.
SHALDON were well beaten by eight wickets at Bridestowe, who ousted them from second place and took it for themselves.
Chris Lavis (3-11) kept things tight at the start as the Shaldon top order struggled to get going.
The Shaldon innings contained only one partnership of note, one of 74 between Todd Balmnn (31) and Richard Fisher (47) for the forurth wicket. The going was tough against Sam Ewen (3-24) and Gary Sizmur (2-30).
Shaldon were bowled out in the 42nd over for 110.
Bridestowe set off in hot pursuit through James Ewen (24) and Gary Sizmur (39no).
They stayed positive after James Ewen was adjudged lbw with Jack Hatton (15) striking a few boundaries.
A brutal innings from Brandon Horn (22 from 10 balls) got the game finished inside 19 overs.
CORNWOOD 2ndXI still have a slim chance of dodging the drop after routing Chagford by 154 runs at Oak Park.
The Corns have to beat Shaldon in their last game and hope Lewdown slip-up horribly against champs elect Bovey Tracey, but at least they have something to play for.
Lewdown’s defeat by Dartington & Totnes may turn out to have been Cornwood’s lifeline.
Ben Griffiths was the only one of Cornwood’s top seven to miss out in a total of 251 for seven.
George Spencer (66) top scored and put on 52 with Dan Piddock (41), 71 with Craig Harris (27) and 78 more with Russ Joynt (24) and Cirian Gray (44).
Relegated Chagford were all out for 97 – and that after openers Roger Whittingham (23) and Jake Griffiths had put on 72 without loss.
The damage was done by Andy Bees (4-19) and Harris (4-5).
