GARY Chappell and Matt Foster both hit tons as Bradninch won by 62 runs away to long-time leaders Bovey Tracey.

Bovey were below full strength for the game and Bradninch quick to cash in on an opportunity to grab second place in the table.

Chappell – 12 fours in in 107 – and Foster, who had 18 fours and a six making 123, put on 210 for the second wicket in a total of 296 for eight.

Wicket taking proved a problem for Bovey, although there were two pricy wicket each for Chris Bradley, Matt Golding and Toby Codd.

Bovey were 234 for nine in reply – a decent effort with four regulars missing and enough to earn four batting points.

Openers Pete Bradley (45) and Josh Mailling (44) put on 91 and Luke Jongwe’s run of form continued with 52 in even time.

Andy Buzza (4-40) shifted the top order and Chappell (2-33) and Will Greig (2-20) took wickets in the middle.

Bovey are still 41 points clear at the top of the table and unlikely to be caught for the title now. A win at North Devon this Saturday should clinch it.

Bovey captain Pete Bradley said losing to Bradninch was a setback but not a ‘not a disaster’.

He added: “We got eight points from it and still 40 points clear.

“We need 22 points from three games and the boys will be working hard to put it to bed.”

On the performance against Bradninch, the Bovey captain said: “I don't think we performed badly.

“Yes, we could have bowled slightly better to start off with, yes we could have fielded slightly better.

“But Chappell and Foster are good batsman and this can happen in cricket.

“We've just been lucky it hasn't happened to much this year.

“When we batted, the batsman made the mistake of getting in, then getting out!

“The pitch got slightly harder to bat on, but we needed one of our top four to go big.

“A few reasons for our loss, but no excuses.”