Plymstock's young seamer Archie Hall, who flushed out Ipplpen's 'lingerers'<br>credit: Conrad Sutcliffe - no re-use without copyright owner's consent

PLYMSTOCK ended the losing sequence that cost them the B Division leadership with a 79-run win over Ipplepen that earned them a share of top spot.

Back-to-back defeats by Budleigh then Bideford knocked Plymstock off pole, but this win put them level on points with usurpers Budleigh.

Plymstock’s total of 224 all out owed plenty to a well-paced 71 from Tyrese Karelse, who took the tally from 40 for two to 204 for nine.

Josh Sumner (28), not for the first time this season, made useful runs, and Fraser Cowen (24) played his part too.

Pens found wickets hard to come by at times. Henry Alsop showed his Bunbury Festival credentials with four for 12. Jono Colgate bagged two for 35 and Noah Rider (3-56) had his figures skewed by a handful of expensive overs.

Pens’ top order did not last long against Billy Gibson (2-18) or Rob Cunningham and were in a perilous situation at 17 for three.

Colgate (21), Ryder (15) and skipper Matt Beasant (42) did what they could, but at 103 for seven with Sam Wakeham (23) just out the writing was on the wall.

Archie Hall (3-11) cleared out the lingerers before Cunningham (2-37) returned to knock over Beasant and dismiss Ipplepen for 145.

Tom Mitch, the winning captain, said: “It was a good return to form for the team and nice to get back to winnings ways.

“Tyrese Karelse was quality and everyone else chipped in to get us to a strong total. Everyone bowled well too.”

Beasant said there were numerous mitigating factors that militated against Ipplepen obtaining the result they wanted.

“It's a very difficult place to play on a very challenging pitch,” said Beasant.

“Plymstock made it look far easier than we did, but we didn't help ourselves. Ipplepen's Henry Alsop – asked to save overs for the Bunbury Festival

“It was a huge shame that (under-15) Henry Alsop's overs were limited by county commitments. The game could've been very different had he bowled his nine. 

“Henry has such a bright future in the game. I'm yet to see someone of that age bowl anywhere near as quick and with his control.”

Although this defeat dropped Ipplepen into the bottom two, skipper Beasant remains confident Pens can play their way out of trouble in the final five games of the season.

“We know what we have to do to get out of this position, but if there's a group of players that can stick together and do that it's this group,” said Beasant.