PLYMSTOCK will go into the final round of games in the B Division with their promotion hopes still simmering away after they won by 42 runs against Chudleigh.
Seaton are already up as champions and right behind them are Bovey Tracey 2ndXI, who are not allowed to go any higher than the B Division as league rules stand now.
That means whoever finishes third will be playing A Division cricket next season and the not-so-short list of candidates is: Kilmington (205pts), Cullompton (201), Thorverton (199) and Plymstock (198).
The stand-out game in the last round is Kilmington against Thorverton. Cullompton are at home to Bovey and Plymstock go to relegated Brixham.
James Nicholls, the Plymstock vice-captain, said whatever else happens the final day of the season will not be dull!
“Let's see what the last-day pressures throw up as there is still a chance for four sides and no one wants to throw it away now,” said Nicholls.
“We are firm outsiders as the teams above all play each other. All we can do is try and get the win and see where it leaves us.”
Nicholls (77) and Scott Mansfield (79no) put on 105 for the second wicket in Plymstock’s total of 262 for four.
Derek Lammonby (3-53) removed Nicholls but Mansfield batted on and on, accumulating 67 runs with Karl Vendrasco for the fourth wicket.
Chudleigh got to 147 for two on the chase – Mark Solway (36), Alex Haywood (54) and Ed Foreman (35) in the runs – then started to decline as Tom Mitch (3-48) and Nicholls (5-38) picked up wickets.
The game was won and lost in the time it took Chudleigh to go from 171 for four to 191 for seven. Saqib Hasan was still there unbeaten on 26 in Chudleigh’s all-out total of 220.
Said Nicholls: “The game showed how frustrating we are as a side.
“We batted superbly well and built a really good platform and had we done that all season we'd be home and hosed.
“It also showed how much we have missed Scott Mansfield. He is one of the best batsman in our division and makes a real difference to us.
“We stuck at it in the field and took our chances when they came so it was another very pleasing result.”
BOVEY Tracey 2ndXI bounced back from their defeat by Chudleigh with a three-wicket win over Brixham.
Bovey’s side had been pillaged to fill gaps in the first team which meant third-team batter Mike Pugh and wicketkeeper Sam Taylor both having to bowl. Pugh picked up two wickets in his four-over spell.
Openers Dhanan Lakshan (57) and Tim Robinson (42) put on 96 for Brixham’s first wicket and when Pugh nipped out Robinson they were 144 for three.
Ten-man Brixham subsided to 166 all out with spinner Derek Perry (5-35) claiming his first five-wicket haul of the summer.
Bovey’s run chase was solid rather than spectacular as everyone in the top six reached double figures, but only Pugh (31) made more than 30.
Brad Causey (21) and Jamie Bishop (23no) were next best in the batting line-up.
Lakshan and Dan Bullock claimed two wickets each for relegated Brixham, who conclude their programme against Plymstock.
Second-placed Bovey, who cannot be promoted due to their 2ndXI status, go to Cullompton, who are among four sides (Thorverton, Plymstock and Kilmington are the others) chasing the second promotion place.
IPPLEPEN skipper Sam Wakeham will be happy to consign the 2019 season to the history books after ending it with an eight-wicket loss to Kilmington.
Eight games into a 16-match season in the B Division, Ipplepen were top of the table on 112 points and targeting a promotion place.
Pens only won two of the next eight games and until defeating Chudleigh three rounds ago were in danger of being sucked into the relegation mire.
Pens can’t finish higher than one off the bottom this season, which ordinarily would mean relegation. Fortunately, Filleigh’s withdrawal from the B Division back in April means only one drop spot this summer and Brixham will be occupying it.
Pens were all out for 164 against promotion-chasing Kilmington. Ruben Stanley (35), Wakeham (31) and Ashley Harvey (28) the main run getters.
The Reed brothers - Ollie (4-23) and Matt (2-25) - did the damage with the ball for Killy, aided and abetted by Rob Crabb (3-49).
Ollie Reed (41) led the Kilmington run chase, supported by brother Billy (24) on a good day for the Reed family.
Pens’ bowlers Aiden Phillips (2-24) and Marcus Gadie (2-32) delayed the inevitable.
Ipplepen have no 1stXI game this Saturday as they were due to face Filleigh
