C DIVISION WEST By CONRAD SUTCLIFFE

CORNWOOD 2nd XI are sitting pretty at the top of the C Division West after they defeated visiting South Devon by seven wickets.

South Devon went in fits and starts from 54 for three, when skipper James Allen got out for 15, to 75 for six then on to 113 for seven and eventually 136 all out.

Paul Hooper top scored on 31 and John Purchese had 33. Allen was one of only two others to reach double figures. Last man Danny Duke (11) was the other one.

Jack Brown (5-26) dominated the Cornwood bowling stats. Josh Goodliffe and Sam Griffiths claimed two wickets each.

Cornwood lost wickets at 33, 55 and 122 on their way to an easy win with 12 overs to spare.

Significant run getters were man-of-the-match Brown (44), Robin Dart (27) and Ben Griffiths (38).

South Devon bowlers Josh Hammett, Dillip Salinda and David Knowles gave Cornwood little to hit – none went for more than two an over – but the home batsmen could afford to be selective as they had time on their side.

Cornwood have a 13-point lead over Brixham at the top of the table. Bridestowe, who lost for the first time this season last Saturday, are 24 points behind in third spot.

South Devon skipper Allen said until batsmen learn to occupy the crease it will be hard for results to improve.

“Again, set batsmen got in and out myself included.” said Allen.

“We are in a strong division and anything can happen.

“Cornwood’s opener (Brown) showed how to do it with a good anchor innings.

“We created enough half-chances but nothing really to hand and the better side won.”

SEAMUS McKenna lashed an unbeaten 137 as Teignmouth & Shaldon chased big to win by three wickets at Bridestowe.

Bridestowe appeared to be in a strong position after totting up 274 for five in 45 overs. Gary Sizmur (72) and Tallan Burns (87) got Bridestowe up to 193 for two and chip-ins from James Ewen (26) and Phil Woods (38) largely took care of the rest.

Joe Wilcox (3-23) topped the T&S bowling stats.

McKenna – 14 fours, four sixes, 142 balls – shared stands of 60 with Andy Espley (24), 59 with Adam Dowsing (11) and 45 with Wilcox (16) as the target came down. Harry Waggett was in at the end when the game was won with 13 balls to go.

Dan Fogerty, the Bridestowe skipper, said it was only right to doff the cap to McKenna.

“He probably played the best innings I've ever seen at Bridestowe so fair play to him,” said Fogerty. “We didn't help ourselves with the ball by bowling two four balls an over.”

ASHBURTON defeated Paignton 2nd XI by 12 runs in a game that wasn’t quite as close as it seems.

Paignton got down to the final over bowled by George Yabsley needing 24 to win, which was always going to be a tall order.

Jake Pascoe (99) was one run short of a maiden league century for Ashburton in their total of 243 for six. Ashley Berry made 60 – he and Pascoe hoisted 148 for the second wicket – and Dan Coles made a run-a-ball 32.

Mark Smith (45) and Brenton Pedley (48) made early runs for Paignton and Tom Blundell upped the pace on his way to 55 not out. Sam Woodcock was the other not out batsman on 24 when time ran out with the score on 231 for six.

Chris Yeo with three for 32 was the pick of the Ashburton bowlers.

Berry, the Ashburton captain, said Ashes played better than they did when Plymouth beat them seven days earlier, but still have work to do.

Berry added: “The thing I was most glad to see was out change in mind set and really believing that we would win this game.

“Jake batted beautifully before falling just shy of his maiden club ton.”

BRIXHAM are up to second in the C Division West following a nine-wicket win in the derby date against Stoke Gabriel.

Stoke skipper Jack Tolley had the only score above 20 in his depleted side’s all-out total of 130.

There were three wickets each for Brixham’s Mike Baron and Matt Parsons plus two more for Lee Upham.

Brixham won at a canter with more than 11 overs to spare on the back of an unbroken stand of 130 between Parsons (38) and Abdul Muzammil (69).

Tom Hopper, the Brixham captain, said there were numerous positives to take into the next round of fixtures.

“Our bowlers bowled really well. Knowing they had a couple of in form batters we knew we had to take early wickets and that's exactly what we did. 

“We had plenty of control with the ball and was very pleased after last week’s efforts.

“Abdul and Matt batted sensibly in the run chase and was great to see a big partnership at the top of the order.”

THREE wickets each for Phil Taylor (3-25), John Kerridge (3-35) and Mike Marker (3-3) set Plymouth on course for a workmanlike win over Hatherleigh.

Harry Arden (25) and Zak Spears (21) were the only Hatherleigh batters to last long against Plymouth’s three-pronged attack.

Hatherleigh’s last four wickets went down for just 10 runs scored as they subsided to 115 all out in the 37th over.

Plymouth stumbled at the start of their reply as Hatherleigh’s Tom Strawbridge (3-29) accounted for Sam White and Peter Evans one after the other.

Kerridge (27) and Sam Knapman (35no) got the chase in full swing, which left Callum Cload (19) and Gareth Hart (11no) to play the supporting roles.