Foan hits fourth ton as Sandford clinch promotion - now for the title!

Richard Foan - four tons for Sandford this season

SANDFORD can claim the A Division title with a game to spare if they beat visiting Ivybridge this Saturday.

Relegation worries Plympton were defeated by 88 runs last time out to put Sandford into a 27-point lead over Hatherleigh at the top.

Sandford are guaranteed promotion – third-placed Budleigh can’t catch them now – so the title would be icing on the cake.

“It is great to be promoted with two games to go, now want to finish the season on a high and keep winning,” said skipper Richard Foan.

Foan led the way with the bat, smacking 153 in Sandford’s total of 310 for eight. He was fifth out at 286 having put on 60 with Neil Bettis (21), 88 with Matt Theedom (39) and 76 with Chris Jelley (42).

It was Foan’s fourth league ton of the season.

Craig Donohue (3-58) and Alex Carr (3-66) were the most successful Plympton bowlers.

Plympton went for batting bonus points and got four in a total of 222 for six.

Andy Walter (63) made eaerly runs, James Degg (34) got some in the middle and Chris Bunney added 30 lower down.

Said Foan: “We pretty much dominated the game from start to finish.

“It was good to see Matt Theedom in form and Chris Jelley hit the ball well at the end of the innings.

“We bowled well on a flat wicket and it was nice to have Jamie Palmer (2-26) back fit.

“Brian Leach (1-29) and Ryan Glass (2-30) did a good job in the middle overs.”

Craig Donohue, the Plympton captain, had a word of praise for Sandford before looking at his own side’s performance.

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“Credit to Sandford,” said Donohue. “In my opinion they are easily the best side in the league and we wish them well.”

On Plympton he said: “It was pleasing to see the application our batters showed.

“Andy and Dave gave us a good start and everyone coming in showed that when we bat as a unit we can be dangerous.

“Unfortunately 300 odd was just too many.

“We have a couple of really important games coming up, but if we can put this batting performance together with the way we have bowled for a lot of the season we will give ourselves every opportunity of winning games.”