Bradninch's Tim Piper - clubbed a ton against Budleigh Salterton<br>credit: www.ppauk.com

HATHERLEIGH had to be content with promotion as runners-up behind Cornwood despite a hefty 243-run win over relegated Ivybridge in the final round of games.

Had leaders Cornwood lost of dropped five points in the derby clash with Plympton, it was possible for Hatherleigh to go past them. Cornwood won by five wickets to seal the title.

Mark Lake, the Hatherleigh captain, was not too disappointed to finish second.

“It has been a fantastic season for the club on the whole. It was our aim to get promoted and we achieved that,” said Lake.

“Can't wait for next season to start as it's a big challenge ahead.”

Gareth Tidball top scored on 117 for Hatherleigh in their total of 335 all out.

Rob Fishleigh (65) and Tidball ratcheted up 176 for the second wicket. Getting Fishleigh out did not do much to slow Hatherleigh as Tino Mutumbodzo (64) and Tidball added another 101 for the third. Mutombodzi and Tidball fell six runs apart in the dash for runs in the last 10 overs.

With five 50s, three tons and 825 league runs at an average in the mid-60s, as well as 30 wickets at an average below 14, Zimbabwean Mutombodzi was a canny signing by Hatherleigh.

Wickets tumbled regularly in the latter stages with James Grigg (4-55) and George Berry (2-45) both taking advantage.

Ivybridge were all out for 92 with 18 of their overs un-bowled.

Sean Letheren (2-16) had Ivybridge under the cosh at nine for three. Dudo Zondo (41) resisted at one end and skipper Harry Solomon kept the other intact as the total climbed to 51 for four.

Fishleigh (2-14) and Simon Gillespie (4-10) removed the bottom half of the Ivybridge order. Zondo was ninth out on 90. The end came two runs later.

CORNWOOD beat Plympton by five wickets to clinch the A Division title on the final day of the season.

With only four points in it between leaders Cornwood and second-placed Hatherleigh going into round 18, the destination of the title was unresolved.

Hatherleigh proved way too strong for relegated Ivybridge, handing out a 243-run hiding, but Cornwood’s 19-point haul against Plympton ensured they could not be caught.

Plympton were all out for 101 in the 30thof their 50 overs, no one making more than ninth man in Jonty Walliker, who top scored on 36.

Plympton had stumbled from 42 for two to 58 for six then 60 for seven, eight and nine before Walliker and last man Josiah Caunter (4no) put on 41 for the last wicket.

Wickets were shared with four for Craig James (4-25) and two each for Adam Goodliffe and Matt Tamsett.

Cornwood got to 53 for one without too many problems, then lost Craig James (32) and Devon’s Ben Beaumont in successive balls.

Although Walliker finished with four for 25, he was unable to stop bits and pieces getting Cornwood home and dry.

Owen Gannon (15) and Matt Skeemer (14) were the unbeaten batters at the end.

BIDEFORD’S hopes of a last-day reprieve were shattered when they lost by 90 runs to Tavistock.

Bideford were hanging on to their A Division status by their fingernails and needed more than just a win to stay up. Barton had to lose too.

Bideford may have harboured some hopes after dismissing Tavistock for 184, but their top order did a disappearing act and with them went their chances of staying up.

Bideford have barely been out of the bottom three all season and relegation was not a shock for captain Paul Heard.

“I am hugely disappointed that we fell very short of expectations and potential,” said Heard.

“League tables don't lie: we were not good enough to retain A Division status.”

Ian Gray (40) and Billy Barriball (36) got Tavistock’s early runs then Charlie Barriball (36) moved the score along after Bideford took four middle-order wickets for 22 runs.

Bideford off-spinner Jack Ford had three wickets for 25 runs and skipper Paul Heard (5-20) dealt with the stragglers.

Bideford were soon in trouble at five for two and lost wickets on a regular basis to Billy Barriball (2-10), Charlie Barriball and James McGahey (2-8).

James Ford (22) and Ollie Hanham (19) hung round for a while, but once they went it was downhill all the way to 94 all out.

BRADNINCH defeated Budleigh Salterton by 27 runs at Ottermouth to secure the consolation prize of third place in the A Division behind champions Cornwood and runners-up Hatherleigh.

Eliot Acton, the Bradninch captain, had hoped to go into the game with something to play for in what had bee a four-way promotion scrap with Budleigh also involved.

Bradninch’s defeat by Tavistock, and Budleigh’s loss to Abbotskerswell, on the penultimate Saturday of the season, ended the promotion race a week early.

Tim Piper opened up for Bradninch in the absence of Gary Chappell, who was assisting the 2ndXI in their win over North Devon 2ndXI, and made 115.

Will Squire underlined his progression from left-arm spinner towards all-rounder status with a patient 52 in a stand of 136 with Piper in a total of 241 for five.

Budleigh’s Joel Murphy claimed two wickets for his current club against his former one. Lloyd Murrin also bagged a brace.

Budleigh reached 102 for two with runs from Ed Doble (35) and brother James (40), but slowed as Chris Acton (2-39) and Eliot Acton (2-33) came into the attack.,

Luke Jefferson was stranded on 56 not out when the final wicket fell on 214.

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