TOBY Lochead reeled off a century as C East champions Heathcoat finished the season with a flourish.
Heathcoat made it 13 wins on the trot when they defeated relegated Alphington by 132 runs.
Lochead, who was nearly lost to Heathcoat during the winter when he moved to Bovey Tracey to live, made 113 in a total of 336 for seven. The Stoneman brothers – Jake (74) and Finlay (39) – were both not out at the end.
Will Pring top scored for Alphington with 71 in their all out total of 204. James Gregson and Jake Stoneman had two wickets each.
DAN Brierley’s time as Braunton captain ended on a high with a 69-run win over lowly Exeter.
Brierley’s three years in charge have seen Branton turn things round on and off the field.
Commercially, the revamped clubhouse is viable again thanks to hours of volunteer work put in by Brierley and fellow team-mates.
On the field Braunton went from perennial relegation worriers to a side that has won more games than it lost this season for the first time in years.
Said Brierley: “I have decided to stand down and leave the role in a better place from where I picked it up from.
“It's been an enjoyable and stressful time, but with the group of lads we currently have and the ones coming, it's looking like we will have a very good squad in both the firsts and seconds next season.
“Callum Mitchell is taking it on next season and I wish him all the best.”
Joe Barnes was the man of the moment for Braunton with rapid ton as they recovered from 25 for three to make 260 all out.
Jack Whittaker (39) and Jon Baglow (21) steadied Braunton with a 52-run partnership before Barnes went to town.
Barnes smashed nine fours and nine sixes in a 55-ball 108.
Exeter were 191 for nine when the overs ran out. Veteran left-hander Mike Wilkinson top scored with 41, Jamie Telford hit 24 and there were numerous bits and pieces batters who got into double figures.
Braunton’s Andy Norman justified his elevation from the 2nd XI with a three-wicket haul and there were two wickets each for Steve Moore and Jon Baglow.
SIDMOUTH 2ndXI defeated Whimple by 21 runs in their final game of the season.
Sidmouth were already assured of second place going into the game and Whimple were guaranteed a place in the top four win or lose.
Sidmouth skipper Anthony Griffiths ensured his average remained above 50 with an unbeaten 54 in Sidmouth’s total of 216 all out. Jash Patidar (35), Dylan Hurst (29) and Rory Thomas (24) all chipped in.
The total may have been greater without a panic attack when Lee Claydon (run out), Toby Seldon (bowled) and last man Charlie Dibble (caught) departed in four balls.
Whimple’s Cameron Kidd, the league’s young player of the year in 2018, took his run tally for the season to 730 at an average of 48.67 with 96 not out in a reply of 195.
Kidd, still only 17, has scored almost a quarter (24.46%) of the team’s runs this season. Ollie Wellesley was next best with 36.
Wickets were shared with four for Byron Knowles, three for Clayden and two for Matt Parker against his former club. For only the third time in 18 games this season, Dibble was wicketless.
SHOBROOKE Park were 20-run winners against visiting Exmouth in their final outing of the C East season.
Openers Dan Robbins (28) and Jareer Shikrani (25) got Shobrooke up to 85 for two, aided and abetted by Jon James with 24 at first wicket down.
No one else made more than 18 as the middle order crumbled. The last six wickets went for 28 runs in an all-out total of 156.
Exmouth’s Matt Tarry had three wickets for 45 runs, Ethan Brenton and Sid Fereday took two each.
Exmouth were all out for 136 in 33 overs – and owed 33 of those runs to extras. Sean Day made a quick 26 at the top. Next best were a pair of 12s.
Robbins (4-25) did most of the damage with the ball. He was backed-up by Jonty Brett (3-44) and Chris Ford (2-11).
Shobrook finished seventh out of ten in the final table with 47 points between them and the second relegation place.
TEN-man Barnstaple & Pilton were 10-wicket losers at Ottery in their final game of the season.
Although relegation looked inevitable since around the halfway mark, Barnstaple & Pilton kept going to the bitter end at first and second team level.
Ottery away on the final day was probably a game too far for the players who supported skipper Lee Cole through thick and largely thin.
George McEndoo (15) and Matt Newton (14) had the only double-figure scores for B&P, who were all out for 58 in just 18 overs.
Ottery bowlers Will Harrison, Matt Jeacock and Jack Malden took two wickets each.
Ollie West (35no) and George Mutter (10no) knocked off the runs in a game that lasted just 26 overs from start to early finish.
