Chudleigh move out of bottom two + only way is up for Bideford

CHUDLEIGH edged out of the bottom two in the A Division by beating Bideford.

Chudleigh’s 26-run victory at Westward Ho! meant they traded places with Bideford in the basement.

The gap is only three points, but having won two of the last three starts skipper Matt Heather will see that as a step in the right direction.

Chudleigh were in a spot of bother at 46 for four, Steve Bond (3-26) doing the damage, which Heather (44) and Dan Britcliffe (43) resolved by putting on 67.

Britcliffe nursed the bottom half of the order up to 156 for eight when he was dismissed by Cameron Atkinson (3-3).

Bideford, faced with making 165 to win, fell behind the clock and couldn’t catch up.

Ollie Hannam made 32 and Jack Ford was unbeaten on 51 in a 50-over total of 138 for nine.

Rob Clarke (4-32) dominated the bowling stats for Chudleigh. The Heather brothers – Matt and Will – had a couple of wickets each.

For Bideford the only way now is up – and in a hurry.

“Half way must be seen as a new chapter for us and lour focus must be on finding any way to win,” said skipper Paul Heard.

On the defeat by Chudleigh, Heard said: “It was a tough one to take because of the same lack of responsibility with the bat.

“Jack Ford needs a special mention for his maiden 50 not out, made in tough circumstances. It was sublime.”

BRIXHAM were outplayed in every department by Budleigh Salterton as they tumbled to a 195-run defeat.

Rhys Dallow (3-49) caused consternation in the Brixham ranks by whipping out Budleigh pair Steve Booth and Ed Doble for a pair or ducks.

Surviving opener Marc Troman (57) and skipper Trevor Anning (31) rebuilt in stand of 66, them Phil Anning weighed in with 58 as the total grew to 192 for five.

Tom Oxland (41) and Lloyd Murrin (32) both weighed in as Budleigh reached 272 for eight in their 50 overs.

Dallow was well supported by Mark Orchard (2-37) and Abdul Muzammil (0-37) in the Brixham attack.

Brixham were all out in reply for 77 – opener George Northcott making 22. There was only one other double-figure score, the 16 made by tail-ender Dan Bullock.

Ed Doble took five for 18 and if he didn’t get them either an Anning or Adam Jones (3-33) did.

Brixham are 11 points clear of the relegation places going into the second half of the season.

Budleigh have moved ahead of Plympton up to fifth place.

It won’t be any easier for Brixham this Saturday as they are away to leaders Torquay.

ABBOTSKERSWELL overwhelmed Plympton by 153 runs to send them to their fourth defeat in a row.

Abbots, who have quietly crept up on the top three in recent weeks without too many people noticing, made 270 for nine.

Key stands for Abbots were one of 54 for the third wicket between Charlie Mitchell (25) and Nick Watkin (41), and another of 58 constructed for the eighth wicket by Alex Birt (40) and Eddie Smout-Cooper (24).

There were three wickets each for Plympton bowlers Matt Draper, Tim George and Justin Wubbeling.

Wubbeling (44) was Plympton’s early run getter when the set off in pursuit.

Abbots kept chipping away at the other end from Wubbeling, who went in at 34 for one and left at 106 for six.

Plympton’s lower-order were skittled out by Noah Tobias, who took five wickets for two runs in 3.2 overs. 

The last five men went for 11 runs in a Plympton total of 117 all out.

Plympton have dropped below halfway and are 18 points away from the relegation places.

Paignton at Paignton – fresh from pounding bottom side Ivybridge by 196-runs – will be a far tougher proposition.

Paignton put bat to ball to good effect to make 315 for six in their 50 overs.

Ivybridge could see the writing on the wall when Paignton were 99 for one with South African Kevin Renecke already on 62 not out.

Renecke went on to make 160 and pulled skipper Richard Ashworth along with in a stand of 158 for the third wicket.

George Berry (2-27) finally removed Renecke, who hit 31 fours during his 137-ball stay.

Ashworth took Paignton past 300 on his way to 85 off 98 balls.

Ivybridge were soon behind the run rate and without a big stand of partnership were always on the back foot.

Andy Johnson (20), Josh Coker (26) and James Sharp (21) all got starts but failed to go on.

At 87 for five Ivybridge were in no-man’s land. Not for long. Paignton medium pacer ran through what remained of the middle order on en-route to match-wining figures of five for 38.

Ivybridge lost their last four wickets for nine runs on the way to 119 all out.

Click here for report on Torquay v Cornwood