Outgoing skipper Kendall optimistic for future | 'If we can keep everyone together, it gives us a chance of kicking on again next year' – speaking after the defeat by Stoke Gabriel

Adriaan Maxwell – made 40 for Stoke Gabriel against Clyst St George

CLYST St George went down by 45 runs to relegation worriers Stoke Gabriel, ending their realistic hopes of a late push for promotion.

It’s going to be third or fourth in the final standings for outgoing skipper Dan Kendall, which he is happy to accept.

“We are content with what has been a thoroughly enjoyable season in a competitive division,” said Kendall, who has declared his five-year captaincy over.

“To still even have a mathematical chance of promotion going into the final day shows a vast improvement on last year, when we barely stayed up. 

“If we can keep everyone together, it gives us a chance of kicking on again next year.”

For Stoke Gabriel it was a massive step towards safety from relegation.

Just one point from this Saturday’s away game at Bideford – that’s 40 runs scored, or two wickets taken – will put Stoke 20 points clear of what second-bottom Ipplepen could get if they win the relegation decider with Braunton.

And as Pens cannot catch Stoke on games won, which is the determining factor when points are level, Jack Tolley’s side would be safe. He would prefer at least two points, just in case…

Isaac Withington (53) and Adriaan Maxwell (40) pointed Stoke towards a total of 249 for seven on the Eastley Memorial Ground. They put on 79.

Best of the rest were Tolley (34) and Will Culver (29no), who added 61 for the seventh wicket.

Andrew Donovan (2-37) and Ewan Cragg (2-37) had identical bowling returns for CSG.

Clyst had plenty to do after slipping to 95 for five in reply. Only Wiehann Meyer (31) made much headway against Jake Robinson (3-44).

Donovan (45) and skipper Dan Kendall (43) effected a recovery to 156 for six – and was only the captain’s demise at 190 for seven that curtailed the chase.

Tolley (2-37), Justin Pringle (2-34) and Liam Mair (2-36) all took bottom-half wickets before Clyst bowed out on 204.