Table-topping Ipplepen trounce Abbotskerswell in C West derby | Rider (pictured) top scores on 64

IPPLEPEN’S grip on the C Division West leadership remains as firm as ever after they saw-off next-door neighbours Abbotskerswell by seven wickets.

Abbots were bowled out for 160, which the Pens knocked-off with more than 22 overs to spare. And they did it without prolific run-getter Jamie Ingram, who suffered an arm injury while fielding.

Ipplepen are waiting to hear if Ingram’s injury is serious enough to rule him out long term.

Ipplepen are 39 points clear of second-placed Brixham at the top of the division, which only has one promotion place. That’s quite a cushion with eight games to go.

Charlie Hill, not for the first time in his Abbots’ career, rescued the team from all sorts of trouble at 32 for four. Without his 92 off 95 balls they would have got nowhere near 160.

George Tapley had three of the first four Abbots’ wickets to fall. Noah Rider eventually spu-out Hill on his way to three for 16.

Ipplepen lost wickets at 34, 97 and 120 on the way to win number nine of the season.

Marcus Gadie was second out for 28, which left Rider (64no) and Warrick Green (26no) to finish the job.

KINGSBRIDGE handed Paignton 2nd XI a 175-run drubbing in a one-sided affair at the Butts.

The South Hams side were always in the driving seat after amassing 278 for nine in the 45 overs available to them.

Opener James Westlake rattled along to 118 off 116 balls – 19 fours, one six – and was involved in stands that took the score to 260 for six.

Freddie Ford (39) was at the other end during an opening stand of 117. Charlie Smyth (18) followed suit with 67 for the second wicket.

Richard Carr (26) and Flynn Taylor (24) added quick runs down the order. Forty-eight extras was a significant contribution.

Paignton gave eight bowlers a go. Matt Lipton (2-39) and George Woodcock (2-42) fared better than the rest.

Veteran spinner Bhanu DeSilva took five Paignton wickets for 15 runs conceded as the visitors were skittled for 103.

Other than runs for Lipton (25) and Max Pedley (24), a procession of batters came and went cheaply. Collapsing from 70 for three to 80 for eight was Paignton’s undoing.

Win number six of the season keeps Kingsbridge (146pts) a distant second behind leaders Ipplepen (185). Paignton are third from bottom with a 23-point cushion between them and the drop zone.