Yelverton and Kingsbridge the one-two at top of D Division West | Grove gives champs (pictured) edge in derby clash against Whitchurch

Promotion-winning Yelverton. Back (left to right): Lewis Gunn-Collins, Tom Richards, Rich Townsend, Mike Lemmings, Josh Stevenson, David Ackford, Sam Burns, Alistair Grove (scorer); front: Jamie Cooper, Rob Grove, Ben Grove (captain), Geoff Brain, Martin Goff

YELVERTON defeated Whitchurch by six-runs in a close-fought derby engagement at Langton Park to confirm themselves as D West champions.

The Bohemians knew they were on the way up going into the game, but could have ceded top spot to Kingsbridge had they lost.

Although Kingsbridge walloped Plymstock 2nd XI by 108 runs that was not enough to deny Yelverton the D West title.

Dave Ackford (33) made early runs for Yelverton but a four-wicket haul for Whitchurch’s Nathan Prout reduced the home side to 77 for seven.

A stand of 98 between Martin Goff (28) and Tom Richards (60) got Yelverton off the hook and in sight of their eventual tally of 186 for nine.

Whitchurch made great progress towards 141 for three in rely with skipper Josh Towl (70) and Rob Bone leading the way.

Ben Grove bowled Yelverton back into the game with a three-wicket burst that turned 141 for three into 147 for five and it was game back on again.

While Towl stayed there Whitchurch had a chance, even though Grove (4-33) and James Cooper (3-21) were doing their best to thwart the chase.

Towl’s departure made it 175 for seven with three overs to go and when he went the chase slowed. Twelve to win off the last over was too many and Whitchurch finished on 180 for nine.

KINGSBRIDGE swept Plymstock 2nd XI aside in ruthless fashion on their way to promotion as runners-up to D West champions Yelverton.

Ed Church (42no), James Westlake (29) and Joe Carey (20) were the leading run scorers for Kingsbridge in their all-out total of 173.

There were three wickets each for Plymstock bowlers Tom Baker (3-58) and Marc Woodward (3-24) and two more for Simon Light.

Plymstock were all out for 65 with Woodward (18) making the best of a sorry set of individual scores in a 108-run defeat.

Veteran Neal Peach (3-19) and Adi Maxwell (3-6) were the bowlers who did the damage for Kingsbridge.

ABBOTSKERSWELL 2nd XI were consigned to relegation from the D Division West following a 49-run defeat by Plympton 2nd XI.

The ever-youthful Simon Beare made a top score of 64 for Plympton, whose total of 222 for eight was assisted by Steve Raven (30), Chris Dunstan (38no) and 38 extras.

Leroy Lane (2-19) kept it tight for Abbots with the new ball and there were three wickets for skipper Charlie Hill (3-28). Chris Meikle’s figures – 9-2-26-0 – are worth noting.

Abbots’ chase was underpinned for a long time by a watchful 59 from opener Dan Cowdry, who made 59 off 97 balls. He was fourth out on 154 having shared stands with Charlie Mitchell (28), one of 66 with Tom Heath (278) and another of 50 with Hill, who went on to make 43.

Once Cowdry was run-out by Keith Willcock it all went pear-shaped for Abbots. There were three wickets for Josh Willcock and three more for man of the match Beare as Abbots crashed from 154 for four to 173 all out.

BARTON 2nd XI defeated Chelston & Kingskerswell by just one run in a D West thriller that went right down to the wire.

Adam Last thumped an unbeaten 116 for Barton in their 45-over total of 215 for seven. Jon Martin was next best on 31.

There were two wickets each for Prashant Ampalam (2-39) and Ethan Kulkarni (2-32) in the C&K bowling stats.

Chelston & Kingskerswell, who were already resigned to relegation, were all out for 214 off the final ball of their innings.

Nick Guest (56), Vivek Kulkarni (35) and Ampalam (32) were C&K’s primary run getters.

Martin Powell, Chris Needham and Martin all took two wickets each for Barton.

IPPLEPEN 2nd XI were on the wrong end of a 64-run defeat at Babbacombe, but were spared the drop as Abbotskerswell lost to Plymstock and finished in the second relegation place.

Aiden Lighthowler (46) and skipper Rob Redding (40) were Babbacombe’s leading run-collectors in a total of 171 for seven. Pens’ Keith Wakeham took three for 20.

Steve Bowman then took six Pens’ wickets for 27 runs as the visitors were bowled out for 106, Only Harry Lewis (51) offered much resistance.