SOUTH Devon showed they are serious about making their stay in the D Division West as brief as possible by handing out a 141-run hiding to Torquay.

Victory hoisted South Devon up to fourth place in a division with three promotion places.

Immediately ahead of South Devon by three points are Plymouth II, although that could change this Saturday when the two sides meet at Mount Wise.

Richard Beaumont was the man of the moment for South Devon with an unbeaten century in their total of 222 all out.

Beaumont has played a bit of cricket in his time – for Wales at under-19 level and Glamorgan 2^ndXI – so is a useful guy to have in your middle order.

Beaumont stroked 15 fours on his way to exactly 100 not out from 99 balls, building on the start Mark Andrews (39) gave South Devon at the top of the order.

In a stand of 66 for the last wicket with Beaumont, tail-ender James Hargreaves made 14. Olly Latto (4-49) was Torquay’s most effective bowler.

Torquay struggled for runs against South Devon’s bowling from the start, but almost universally sold their wickets dearly.

Anthony Nadar’s top score of 17 came off 49 balls before Dinesh Rahaja (2-12) got one through his defences. Latto, Noah Rider and Issac Bond all made South Devon work for their wickets.

Skipper James Allen returned for a second spell to spin out the stragglers on his way to four wickets for 24 runs as Torquay were dismissed for 81 in the 33^rdover.

After two successive relegations, South Devon are playing at the lowest level they have ever been at in nearly 50 years of league cricket.

Four wins in six starts has signalled an upturn in the club’s fortunes.

Skipper Allen feels the mood around the club is now upbeat with new faces contributing to the change.

“The chemistry of the squad has changed,” said Allen.

“With the additions of Anthony Bingley, Harry Senior and Liam Price I feel we have more depth.

“And it is nice to see players fighting for places in the 1st XI, unlike seasons gone by.”

South Devon may be on the up, but Allen says is always room for improvement.

“We are all working hard in training and with the side we have, there is no reason why we can't finish in the top,” said Allen.

YELVERTON stay out in front at the top of the D Division West following their 156-run win over Plymouth CS&R.

Civil arrived at Langton Park on the back of two successive wins, but were always going to struggle for a third after Yelverton piled up 293 for five.

Dan Cooper (22) and Geoff Brain (36) gave Yelverton a 69-run start. Richard Townsend (74) and Ben Grove (41) added 91 for the third wicket then Giles Beauchamp (50) joined Townsend to put on another 80.

One a day when Civil found wickets were hard to come by, Dan Windsor’s one for 19 off nine overs impressed.

Civil were all out for 137 in reply, the last four wickets falling for just eight runs.

Civil had Jack Dent (27), Al Stewart (22) and Dan Ellard (20) to thank for getting them to 129 for seven after they had been 46 for four.

Yelverton skipper Sam Crompton (2-26) took wickets up top, Pat Hobbs (3-21) had a clutch in the middle and Cooper (3-9) helped himself to three at the end.

KEEP an eye out for Plymouth’s young left-armer Ethan Carlisle over the summers ahead.

That’s the tip from Plymouth 2^ndXI skipper Steve Luffman after the Devonport High School student’s debut performance in the four-wicket win at Whitchurch.

“Awesome,” was how Luffman described Carlisle, adding: “For a 14 year old to come into the side and bowl the way he did was remarkable,”

Whitchurch were bowled out for 194 wit more than five overs to go – opener Josh Towl top scoring on 47. 

Carlisle (3-38) took three of the first five wickets to fall and shared the bowling honours with John Kerridge (3-38).

Plymouth cantered to victory inside 32 overs with Adam Talbott (32), Luffman (36) and Rob Bennett (46no) leading the way.

Ollie Parsons hit the winning runs, lofting Josh Meadows for six.

FORMER Paignton seamer George Yates did his old clubmates no favours when he ran into their 2^ndXI playing for Stoke Gabriel.

Yates and Connor Bryan quit Queens Park during the close season for a new challenge with Stoke Gabriel down in the D Division West, where they sit second in the table.

Bryan didn’t play last Saturday, but Yates did and his five-wicket haul helped Stoke register a 46-run win.

Jack Tolley hit a top score of 67 for Stoke in their total of 210 for nine. He was third out on 95 to Mark Smith (3-36).

Andy Kingdon made 46 against one of his old clubs and Isaac Withington chipped in with 43. 

Jack Harman and Rory Medlock backed up Smith with two wickets each.

Paignton got to 75 for two with runs from Jason Woodcock (31) and Luke Medlock (20).

Yates (5-29) and Tolley (2-34) were a constant hindrance to Paignton’s progress and prompted a slump from 75 for two to 85 for six. 

Tim Ward (36) and Sam Glanfield (23) made the score respectable with a stand of 63, but once Glanfield went it was downhill to 164 all out.

BARTON second team skipper Jim Parker had something to celebrate at last – a first league win of the season for his young side.

League reorganisation during the winter probably placed Barton in a division that is a little bit too strong for a developing squad.

Barton proved too strong for the villagers of Kenn through, bowling them out for 151 and knocking off the runs with seven wickets intact.

And don’t bet against another Barton win this Saturday when they host Plymouth CS&R, a side who only recently ended a 13-month wait for a league win!

Morgan Harford was the man of the match for Barton with four for 35 as Kenn were skittled out. Jack Hemus and Scott Bellamy chipped in two wickets each.

Alex Hunt made 41 early for Barton, then Harford (54no) and Adrian Lipton (31no) wrapped up a 20-point maximum.