Abbots face uphill struggle for survival after back-to-back defeats in D West

Tom Cooper - runs for Ipplepen in the derby win over Abbotskerswell

A DOUBLE dose of defeats over the penultimate weekend of the league season has left Abbotskerswell 2ndXI on the brink of relegation from the D Division West.

Abbots’ big game was the Saturday afternoon derby showdown with Ipplepen, who were just a tenth of an average point ahead of their second-botton neighbours in the table. Ipplepen won that game by 138 runs. 

It was off to Whitchurch on Sunday for a rearranged game against Whitchurch and another chance to salvage some points. Abbots lost that game by six wickets.

Abbots are still second bottom and now trail Pens by 1.32 points. Where average points are concerned that’s a lot more than it sounds.

If Abbots take all 20 points off Plympton 2ndXI this Saturday they will stay up if Ipplepen lose or fewer against Babbacombe. If both sides lose it will be calculators at the ready,

George Tapley (52) and Tom Cooper (48) pointed Ipplepen towards a total of 213 all out against Abbots. Noah Sutton weighed in with 38.Tom Heath – five wickets for Abbotskerswell

Tom Heath took the bowling honours for Abbots with five for 45.

Two wickets each for Freddie Harvey, Paul Thomas and skipper Harry Lewis had Abbots behind the clock for six when rain stopped play.

Abbots posted 162 for seven in their 45 overs in the Sunday re-run at Whitchurch.

Skipper Charlie Hill made 20 opening up, Tom Heath chipped in with 21 and a stand of 61 between Jamie Lock (40) and Adam Latham (40) made up most of the rest of the runs.

The Towl brothers – skipper Josh (2-32) and Dan (2-32) – matched each other ball-for-ball during their nine-over spells.

Whitchurch were always in control after reaching 62 for two and went on to win with 15 overs to spare.

An unbroken stand of 103 between skipper Towl (68no) and Rob Bone (27) concluded the chase with the minimum of fuss. Forty-one extras helped.

PLYMPTON were 24 for one in the eighth over of their innings at Kingsbridge when the heavens opened.

Promotion candidates Kingsbridge reached 144 for nine in 35 overs thanks to James Westlake (36) and Sam Rhymes (27).

Pick of the Plympton bowlers with four for 33 was Oliver Goulder. Ben Phillips and Mill Squire claimed two wickets each.

It was a similar story at Plymstock where the game against Barton 2ndXI failed to go the distance.

Tom Porter hit 52 as Barton got to 147 all out in 34 overs. Dave Carter (33) and Jack Bell (30) were the supporting artists.

Denzil Brown (4-30) and Matt Whalley (3-20) had the stand-out bowling figures for Plymstock, who were forced off at 27 for one.