STOKE Gabriel closed the gap on Abbotskerswell to six points when they beat Chagford by 19 runs.

Mark Newman (70) and Mike Meech (64) led the way for Stoke in a total of 181 for seven.

There were three wickets each for Liam Gardner (3-47) and Derek Lammonby (3-21).

Chagford looked comfortable at first with James Fulner (24) laying a foundation and Kenton Vos keeping the score moving.

What Vos didn’t have was any worthwhile support as batsmen came and went for a succession of single-figure scores. Stuart Lord’s nine was the best of a sorry set of scores.

Dan Bullock (4-22) kept chipping away at the middle order, but could not shift Vos.

Nathan Hicks (3-33) returned for a second spell and bowled Vos for 81 to put Stoke on course for victory.

Stoke travel to lowly Plymouth CS& R this Saturday. Chagford are away to second-placed Abbotskerswell.