BRAUNTON won away from home for the first time this season when they beat Exmouth by four wickets to go third in the table.
Opener James Edworthy was the star man for Exmouth with an unbeaten 126 in their total of 222 for five.
Edworthy and Luke Davies (20) hoisted 66 for Exmouth’s third wicket then Ryan Schaufler (25) added 49 for the fifth.
Braunton were lagging behind at 59 for four having lost wickets to Matt Tarry (2-25) and Schaufler (2-34).
Jack Whittaker (47) and skipper San Brierley (37) put on 80 to revive the chase, then James Kemp (29no) and Joe Barnes (49no) saw it through.
Brierley said it was a game that had to be won the hard way and praised Whittaker for his role in the victory.
“He batted with so much class and timing and allowed me to counter attack,” said Brierley.
“After we put on 80 together Joe Barnes batted so well with James Kemp and won us the game.
“Needing eight a over off the last 22 did seem a lot to ask, but in the end it looked comfortable.”
EXMOUTH 2nd XI skipper Richard Baggs remains confident results will start to improve soon.
The four-wicket defeat by Braunton was the third on the trot for Exmouth, who have slipped down to fifth in the table.
Exmouth had selection and injury issues against Braunton as a number of players were either injured or missing, among them Baggs.
Sean Day was injured and could not bowl. Alvin Pollard was absent and Alex Craib was assisting the 1stXI.
Baggs knew at the start of the season availability would be an issue, but with the universities about to kick-out for the summer he sees better times ahead.
“At full strength we can beat anyone, but it's how often we can be full strength,” said Baggs.
“I did say availability would hurt us and it has proved right so far.
“We have Sam Goodier to come back from university and Fin Marks finally close to fitness.
“With people coming back from next week, we should be a stronger outfit.”
SAM Bithell hit his maiden Devon League century in Barnstaple & Pilton’s 13-run win over fellow strugglers Exeter 2nd XI.
With opener Bithell striking 101 not out off 132 balls, B&P posted 239 for two in 45 overs.
Bithell and George McEndoo (59) put on 154 for the first wicket as the Exeter bowlers largely toiled in vain.
Cameron Cunningham (2-51) was Exeter’s lone wicket taker.
Exeter every incentive to chase as a win could have lifted them out of the bottom two.
Key knocks of 72 from Robin Fern, 26 by Alec Holifield, 47 from Cunningham and 31 by Callum Hogan got Exeter n touching distance at 216 for five.
Losing three wickets for eight runs ended the chase and Exeter finished on 226 for eight.
Lee Cole (2-37) was the pick of the B&P bowlers.
Barnstaple & Pilton are off the bottom of the table but not out of the bottom two. Exeter have fallen to the bottom of the pile.
A MIDDLE-order batting collapse potentially cost Shobrooke Park their chances of beating Alphington at the Chronicles.
Alphington recovered from a wobbly start – they were 39 for five – to reach 240 for nine in 45 overs.
After an early going over from Shobrooke skipper Dan Robbins (5-41), Alphington’s lower-half batters got a grip.
Jack Mills (29) and Lee Craven (59) put on 74 for the sixth wicket in a stand ended when Peter Turner trapped Craven.
Mark Halse whacked seven fours and two sixes on the way to a rapid 70 not out as the total shot along.
Shobrooke were three for two after running into problems against Kam Singh (3-26), then recovered as Neil Branton (44) and Jareer Shikrani (49) posted 96 for the third wicket.
Halse (2-35) and Jon Heaver (2-39) sent Shobrooke sliding to 116 for six and to win it from there was always going to be tough.
Ben Trenaman (29) and Bruce Kerry (38) had a go, but Will Pring (3-25) spoiled their fun as Shobrooke subsided to 202 all out.
TODD Barrett rapped out a reminder to the Heathcoat selectors by hammering 107 in the 2nd XI’s 23-run win over former leaders Whimple.
In the two games since he was dropped Barrett has scored 48 and 107.
Simon Sobczak reeled off 55 and Jake Stoneman knocked up 40 as Heathcoat advanced to 256 for six.
Matt Brown (3-48) took the limited bowling honours for Whimple.
Whimple had a real go at knocking off the runs with Cameron Kidd (59), Richard Brown (40) and Kevin Thompson (22) all contributing.
Wickets were shared but the key stat was Finn Stoneman’s three for 62, which included both Browns and Ollie Wellesley.
Heathcoat host Shobrooke Park this Saturday
SKIPPER Anthony Griffiths nailed an unbeaten century as Sidmouth went back to the top of the C Division East with a 75-run win at Ottery St Mary.
Griffiths went in at 78 for three and was still there undefeated on 102 in a final tally of 267 for five. Along the way there was a stand of 158 with Tom Moore.
Jody Clements posted the best Ottery bowling figures of one for 28 off nine overs.
Ottery were all out for 192 in reply, spun out by Jordan Fowler (3-34) and Charlie Dibble (4-34).
Alex Clements (38), Joe Henkus (51) and Dan Flower (25) took Ottery to 144 for three, then wickets started to tumble. It was a different story at 165 for seven and the chase was discontinued.
Sidmouth have moved ahead of Whimple, whose last-gasp defeat at Heathcoat dropped them down to second.
