IPPLEPEN bounced back from their defeat by Cullompton by inflicting a first loss of the season on promotion rivals Budleigh Salterton.

The Pens, who opted to bat first, made 215 for nine on their first visit to the Holt, then held the Otters to 169 for nine to clinch a 46-run win.

Budleigh (56pts) dropped down to fourth in the table with Ipplepen a place and a point behind them.

Pens’ innings was solid rather than spectacular, although without some middle-order impetus they may have been a few runs light.

Matt Beasant (22) and Reuben Stanley (22) were the significant scorers in the top five. Noah Rider (32), George Tapley (39) and Ross Kennard (38no) got things moving lower down.

Sam Whitehead (4-36) kept Pens’ top order in check; Joel Murphy (2-40) knocked over a couple of tail-enders.

Budleigh’s chase ran into trouble at 37 for two with Nick Bolt just out for 26 to veteran seamer Paul Thomas (4-33). A slide to 52 for five left the lower order a lot to do – and they had a real go for a while.

Harvey Shipton (20) started the fightback, then Sam Whitehead (29) tried to keep it going. By the time Jack England (26) and super veteran Neil Murrin (23no) teamed-up at 115 for eight the game had got away.

Freddie Harvey (2-17) and Nathan Forde (1-17) helped Pens keep the runs down.

Matt Beasant, the Ipplepen captain, said an encouraging feature of the game was the numerous contributions towards setting a total.

Beasant added: “And a special mention to Ross Kennard and George Tapley for their very mature innings.

“We're putting in consistent performances with the bat so looking to take that momentum into this week’s game at Clyst St George."