THORVERTON signed off their promotion-winning season in the Tolchards DCL B Division with a 57-run win over Dartington & Totnes.

Although their batting-first total of 172 on a sunny day on the Dartington Hall Estate ground may have looked below par, Thors were always confident they had enough.

And so it proved as D&T were bowled out for 115 having been 97 for three at one stage and looking likely winners before Jono Colegate was snared lbw by Alex Jopling (3-31).

No one made more than George Daldorph (30) for Thorverton in an innings of chip-ins from Paul Fielder (20), Luke Vukusic (23), Ben Coe (18) and Harry Choules (17).

There were two wickets apiece for D&T bowlers Nick Dennis, Andy Bligh and Joe Parker. Joe Martin (1-24), Will Gornall (1-26) and Chris Cook (1-23) got through 26 overs between them at low cost.

Justin Osborne (22) and Colegate (46), with back up from skipper Cook (17) seemed to put D&T in a strong position at 97 for three. Colegate went first, the Kevan Throgmorton, and after that it as a headlong dash to 115 all out. 

Dartington & Totnes’ last five wickets went for four runs as Jake Choules (3-6) and man of the match Daldorph (4-26) wheeled away. 

Thors return to the A Division more than 30 years since they last played there, which was between 1987-1990. They never surpassed their first season in tier two when they finished runners-up behind Hatherleigh. Only one team was promoted in that era.

Skipper Choules said promotion will be a ‘challenge’, but one to look forward to. He added: “This promotion has been coming after a few solid years of building under Andy Pitt. 

“I think the main thing next year will be having a much more consistent team and fewer weddings… hopefully!

Choules said Guernsey T20 international Dave Hooper should be more regularly available in 2022. “That will be like a new signing in itself,” said the captain.

“We might look to bring in a couple of others and hopefully an overseas depending on Covid etc. 

“If people in the area want a new challenge at a club on the up, they know where we are.

“Our bowling attack has been brilliant this year and we've had compliments on it from higher-ranked clubs. Overseas-wise I think we will go for a top-order bat if possible.”