SANDFORD installed themselves as A Division title favourites when they handed out a 131-run hiding to Hatherleigh.
It’s been a two-horse race almost all season between Hatherleigh and Sandford for the title.
Hatherleigh topped the table for the first 10 weeks before Sandford went past them.
Sandford now lead by 28 points with 60 to play for and it’s hard to see how Hatherleigh can catch them now.
“The aim for the season was to get up and we are nearly there so couldn't be happier,” said Sandford skipper Richard Foan.
The worry for Hatherleigh is having gone five games without a win, is there enough left in the tank to stop Budleigh overhauling them on the run in?
Hatherleigh have a 23-point advantage, which on current form isn’t enough to be totally confident.
Sandford hurtled to 287 for seven in their 50 overs – taken most of the way there by skipper Foan, who hit seven fours and six sixes in his 116.
There were big stands of 108 with Charlie Fitzoy (30) and 63 with Matt Theedom (41).
Losing skipper Mark Lake had no complaints.
“Sandford out played us in all departments,” said Lake.
“They batted really well and got an above par score.
“And scoreboard pressure and good bowling in the second innings was what made them a lot better than us on the day.”
Hatherleigh play Chudleigh this Saturday at Kate Brook.
Foan was keen to share the credit round, saying: “Having been seven for none off 10 overs in difficult batting conditions, getting 280 was a great effort.
“Good to see the top four all get runs and set up a good score.”
Sean Letheren (3-42) was the pick of the Hatherleigh bowlers.
Grant Ward (4-19) had Hatherleigh reeling at 5 for five and 89 for eight after Pete Steer (2-36) weighed in was hardly an improvement.
“Grant Ward bowled well to get through the top order then Brian Leach and Peter Steer did a good job in the middle overs,” said Foan.
Jack Cherrington (60no) and Charlie Nielson (27) delayed the inevitable as they put on 69 for the ninth wicket.
PLYMPTON remain under pressure at the bottom of the A Division table following five-wicket reversal in the derby date with Cornwood.
Plympton were bowled out for 99 in the 40th of their 50 overs – no one making more than James Degg (32).
After reaching 62 for one –Degg and Dave Wrench (17) the main run getters – Plympton nosedived to 78 for six then 88 for eight.
Star man with the ball for Cornwood was skipper Elliot Staddon, who took six wickets for 10 runs in nine overs. Adam Goodliffe (3-17) did his bit.
Staddon smacked 62 of 57 balls to put Cornwood on course for victory.
Craig Donohue (2-11) had a couple of early wickets and dad Keith (2-31) accounted for a couple more.
Neither could shift Staddon, who was finally out on 98 with two runs needed.
As Plymstock and Brixham both lost, they stay below Plympton in the latest table.
The safety margin is 18 points with three games left, starting with champs elect Sandford this Saturday.
Plympton skipper Craig Donohue said it was a ‘poor display’ by the batters who fell away after getting to 60 for one.
“Unfortunately we lost Wrenchy and Deggy close together and then, like we have done on a number of occasions this season, collapsed quite quickly,” said Donohue.
“In the field we got a couple of quick wickets but Elliott played a very good counter attacking innings and with a small total he broke the back of it.
“Wrenchy and my old man managed to slow the run rate which gave us a chance on a wicket that was deteriorating. But 99 just wasn't enough.
“We move into the game at Sandford and a chance to put the wrongs from this week right.”
PLYMSTOCK are one defeat away from the drop after they went down by 76 runs in the derby clash with Ivybridge.
Ivybridge made 209 all out in the last of their 50 overs – Tom Mitch (2-19) taking the final wicket with a ball to go.
Harry Solomon (37) and Jeewan de Silva (72) hoisted 80 for the third wicket and a stand of 46 for the eighth between Devon Ladies all-rounder Cait O’Keefe (16) and Josh Coker (25) moved the score along at the end.
Bronte Bess (4-22) was the best of the Plymstock bowlers.
Coker (2-29) and Jamie Bullock (3-30) had Plymstock reeling at 33 for five – not the start Plymstock needed.
Dan Robotham made 20 and Bess 48 going in at six, but the damage was done. Spinner de Silva took three for four to tie up the loose ends.
Plymstock are 33 points adrift of safety at the bottom. If they lose to Brixham this Saturday and Plympton win at Sandford – unlikely, but not impossible – it’s all over.
Ivybridge, who came up with Plymstock for this season, are 32 points clear of relegation danger and appear safe now.
CHUDLEIGH banished their relegation worries once and for all with a 54-run win over Brixham.
Victory hoisted Chudleigh into the top half of the table, 61 points away from the relegation places with 60 to play for.
But the worrying goes on for Brixham, who are 19 points adrift of safety with three games left.
Brixham (120pts) play fellow strugglers Plymstock this Saturday and need to win to avoid falling any further behind Plympton (138), the side they have to get ahead of.
Grant Stone hit a top score of 94 for Chudleigh in their total of 211 all out.
Ed Foreman (36) chipped in to a stand of 78 with Stone, who got Chudleigh off to a 56-run start with Mark Solway.
Jason Oaks (3-43) was the leading Brixham bowler.
Brixham subsided to 67 for four on the chase under pressure from Will Heather (3-21).
Andy Pugh (55) and Mark Orchard (20) put on 55, but the damage was done.
Stone (2-30) removed Orchard then Foreman (4-39) got into the lower order to skittle Brixham for 157.
Chudleigh host Hatherleigh this Saturday.
BUDLEIGH Salterton kept their outside hopes of promotion alive with a 90-run win over Lewdown.
Budleigh aren’t going to catch leaders Sandford, but may overhaul Hatherleigh if they keep losing.
Four defeats and a rain-off in the last five starts have dropped Hatherleigh (221pts) down to second, 23 points ahead of Budleigh (198).
Matt Junk and Elliot Rice had a brace of 40s as Budleigh made 166 all out. There were three wickets each for Jack Williams and Adrian Clements.
Phil Anning picked up five wickets and brother Trevor bagged two more to send Lewdown spinning to 76 all out.
