CLYST Hydon live to fight another day in the D Division East despite a 124-run defeat at the hands of champions Clyst St George.

Three teams were due to be relegated from the D East this season, but that number was cut to two last week by league chiefs after reviewing tables above.

The knock-on effect of only one team being relegated from the nine-team B Division – Filleigh pulled out back in April – is one fewer team going down all the way through in the East sections.

In a message to clubs sent out last Friday, league secretary Ed Leverton said: “I can confirm only two teams will be relegated from the C East and all subsequent East divisions.”

Freddie Creer (51) and skipper Harry Attwater (56) were St George’s leading run getters in a total of 232 for eight. Andrew Donovan chipped in with 42.

Clint Lewis (1-25) kept it tight for Hydon. James Billington (3-59) and Chris Holmes (3-55) got among the wickets.

Hydon, reprieved from a second successive relegation by the league’s rulling, were all out for 108.

They slewed from 68 for three to 79 for six then on to 93 for nine. Tail ender Billington (14) got them into three figures.

Inder Singh (3-13) posted the best figures among the eight St George bowlers used.

SANDFORD 2^ndXI were promoted by the skin of their teeth despite a dramatic last-ball defeat by promotion rivals Sampford Peverell & Tiverton.

Upottery defeated Chardstock by two wickets to claim runners-up spot behind Clyst St George, which left Sandford and Sampford Peverell & Tiverton contesting the third relegation place.

Sandford went up by three points despite losing by one wicket after SP&T’s Harry Everett (75no) slammed the final ball of the game for four.

Bonus points won in the game by Sandford – four bowling, four batting – proved the deciding factor.

Skipper Shaun Hawkins made 67 and put on 76 with Pete Steer in Sandford’s total of 185 for nine.

Tom Hatton (4-40) had Hawkins among his victims.

Everett went in a 50 for two and his stand of 68 with Robbie Broomhead (30) appeared to put SP&T on track.

Hawkins removed Broomhead then Ben Clement (4-40) decimated the middle order, leaving Everett to nurse SP&T over the line.

HONITON ended a disappointing season on a winning note with a 47-run win in the derby clash at Feniton.

James Pickard, the Honiton captain, had hoped his side would prosper after promotion last season. Instead they are going straight back down.

One more win would probably have kept them up in a division where only 19 points separated Kentisbeare (5^th) from Honiton in the second relegation place.

Keiran Conway made 41 in Honiton’s running total of 119 for five. After he went Pickard (40) and Willy Graham (33) added 64 towards a final tally of 205 all out.

Matt Davies (4-42) was Feniton’s lead bowler. Mark Russell (2-22) gave little away.

Feniton had it all to do after dipping to 69 for five. Jack Tucker (42) and Jon Pyle (43) put on 86, but once they went the last five wickets fell for just three runs scored.

Pickard (3-33) broke the stand between Tucker and Pyle. Rob Ingham (3-17) took care of the stragglers.

KENTISBEARE’S Paul Tatterton and Matthew Stewart set a new club record for a pair of openers in the 10-wicket win over relegated Budleigh Salterton.

Joe Marley (56) and Harry Parkin (39) did well enough for Budleigh in their total of 271 for eight.

Tattertn and Stewart totally eclipsed anything Budleigh could to as both made unbeaten centuries reaching 275 for none in reply, Stewart had 141 not out and Tatterton 102.

Kents’ previous first wicket record was 228 set by Tatterton and his son Rory against Ottery 2^ndXI last summer.

UPOTTERY defeated Chardstock by two wickets in a last-over finish to take the third promotion spot out of the D Division East.

Opener Gary Larcombe hit 50 and a top-up stand of 71 between Tom Warren (47) and James Pyman (34no) took Chardstock to 180 for four.

Upottery duo Ryan Pulman and Gary Kennard bowled 18 over between them for only 35 runs conceded.

James Mitcham scored the promotion-clinching knock for Upottery. He went in at 22 for two and was involved in stands worth 160 for his unbeaten 61. Pulman (24) chipped in.