SANDFORD wrapped-up their title-winning season in the Premier Division by handing out a nine-wicket drubbing to Cornwood.
Jackson Thompson, the former Cornwood captain who moved to Heathcoat two seaons ago, now skippers Sandford and was presented with the champions’ trophy before the game got under way.
Phil Bees, an official of the Tolchards DCL and a former Cornwood captain, made the presentation on behalf of the league and the sponsors.
It was Sandford’s first league title since they won it back in 2004. Sandford have now won the top prize four times. Only Exmouth (11), Torquay (8), Sidmouth (8) and Exeter (5), have more title wins.
Cornwood were depleted before the started as Devon trio Ben Beaumont, Matt Skeemer and Max Finzel were all due to travel to Birmingham ready for the National Counties play-off final against Buckinghamshire, which started on Sunday.
Those left behind quickly subsided to 29 for four – losing opener Ben Griffiths in the first over did not help – and without Elliott Staddon (31) and Adam Goodliffe (24) – the Corns would have struggled to get anywhere near 102 all out.
There were three wickets each for Sandford bowlers Dikshan Negi (3-12) and Jamie Palmer (3-17) and two early on for Matt Jeacock.
Sandford’s only casualty in an 11.2-over run chase was opener Ciaran Gray – another Cornwood old boy – who was dismissed by Chris Parker with the score on 99.
Negi (70no) wiped-off the four runs needed to win without next man in Adam Small having to face a ball.
BOVEY Tracey’s hopes of a last-day win to lighten the gloom of a relegation season were dashed by a seven-wicket defeat at Exmouth.
Bovey, already doomed going into the final game of the summer, made a respectable 240 for nine in the full 50 overs allowed.
Bovey’s big stands were 56 for the first wicket between Jake Pascoe (22) and Sam Harvey (43); 56 between Harvey and Ash Causey (33) and 73 for the eighth wicket between former captains Toby Codd (34) and Peter Bradley (27).
Assad Ullah (5-32) was the lone Exmouth bowler to take more than one wicket.
There were more than seven overs to go when Greenway launched Codd for six to win the game for Exmouth.
Opener Greenway (67no) got the running total up to 98 for two with help from Cameron Kidd (33).
Pyle, who raced to 64 off 51 balls with six fours and five sixes, was Greenway’s running mate in a stand of 130 that made the result a formality.
Outgoing captain Lewis Hammett said there were numerous turning points during the season that made Bovey’s task of staying up harder.
“There were a few and times when we let ourselves down with unacceptable performances,” said Hammett.
“Losing our overseas player (Alex Bevilaqua) very early was tough.
“Losing in the last over when we only needed four runs again Bradninch at home and dropped catches at Paignton was also tough.
“The low point was losing at home against a weakened Exmouth side. And a couple of lost tosses meant we were batting on a wet pitch in game almost decided on the flip of a coin.
“I lost track of how often I was told we were too good to go down by opposition players but the league table doesn't lie.
“It's sport, it happens – and we will come back stronger next year for it.”
NORTH Devon’s season of more lows than highs ended on a positive note with a six-wicket home win over Plympton.
North Devon knew going into their last game of the season that relegation is inevitable – and Plympton knew they had done enough to dodge the drop.
Plympton, short of three regulars due to Devon commitments, made a respectable 199 all out.
Jeremy Williams, the former Devon keeper-batsman, marked his return to the first team after an absence of seven seasons with a top score of 47.
Jack Martin made 27 not out down the order and best of the bits and pieces was 19 from opener Surya Suresh.
North Devon bowlers Josh King and Ben Howe took four wickets each.
North Devon stumbled at the start – they were 30 for two – but got a move on during a third-wicket stand of 89 between outgoing captain Tom Popham (35) and Jack Moore.
Moore and Howe (31) took North Devon within seven runs of victory, which was achieved with Moore on 97 not out in the 45th over.
Popham has informed the club he won’t be carrying on as captain, a post he has held since 2019 when he took over from Matt Westaway.
BRADNINCH & Kentisbeare defeated Heathcoat by 71 runs to claim the consolation prize as runners-up to Sandford in the Tolchards DCL Premier Division title race.
The Ninch, last year’s Premier champs, were never higher than second in the table this season and had virtually made it their own prior to the final round of fixtures.
Sidmouth or Cornwood could have gone past B&K on the final day, but as both lost their prospects vanished.
Mitch Pugh (87) opened up for Bradninch & Kentisbeare and batted on and on until he was seventh out at 159.
Tim Piper (28) was next best for B&K, who were all out for 171. Dan Pugsley with six for 21 was Heathcoat’s stand-out bowler. James Boyle and Joe Hancock had two wickets each.
Heathcoat, who had nothing to play for, were dismissed for 87 inside 28 overs. Wickets were shared among the B&K bowlers with three for Josh Farley (3-19) and two each for Ross Acton, Pugh and skipper Gary Chappell on his comeback from injury.
Simon Sobczak (23) and James Onley-Gregson (21) had Heathcoat’s only scores above 20.
