SOUTH Devon skipped smartly off the relegation trap door on the final day of the C West season when they defeated Teignmouth & Shaldon by four wickets.
The bottom two has been home from home for South Devon for more than half a season and going into the last day they had it all to do to stay up.
Beating Teignmouth & Shaldon was a must, as was Brixham losing to Ashburton AND only earning eight points or fewer. It was a tall order and it came off.
Opener Seamus McKenna (57) top scored for T&S in their total of 154 all out. Morgan Couch was run-out for 26 and there were more extras (18) than any other runs scored off the bat.
Spin was key for South Devon with three wickets each for Alex Bridgeman (3-18) and also skipper James Allen (3-54).
South Devon started badly – they were six for two, 51 for four and 61 for six – which was hardly a winning platform.
Baijan all-rounder Bridgeman was still there though and found a willing running-mate in veteran Richard Beaumont.
While Bridgeman was making 65 not out at one end, Beaumont was ticking over for an unbeaten 30 at the other. Their unbroken stand of 94 won the game with 11 overs to spare.
South Devon lost seven games to bad weather or Covid alerts over the 18-game season, which skipper Allen said made things tough for the team.
“It was a very difficult season as it was hard to get going and build any sort of momentum.
“Credit to all players especially Alex Bridgman, who brought a lot to the club on and off the field.
“We showed real fight towards the back end of the season and hopefully we can be towards the other end of the table next season.”
JAKE Robinson bagged four wickets and Dan Bullock spun out three more as Stoke Gabriel defeated Paignton 2nd XI by 105 runs in the derby clash on the Eastley ground.
Paignton had been set 183 to win and were soon in trouble at 35 for five in reply with Robinson taking three of the wickets to fall.
Tim Robinson delayed the inevitable with 21 off 34 balls before he was the last man out on 77.
It might have looked a convincing win for Stoke, but when they were 49 for five batting first a three-figure win looked highly unlikely.
Charlie Ward (2-29) and Jack Smith (3-33) ran through the top order until Mike Meech arrived in the middle.
Meech thumped the Paignton bowling for 99 off 85 balls – 12 fours, four sixes – and was still there in a total of 182 for eight at the end.
Meech needed 10 from the final over bowled by Tom Blundell to reach his ton and two from the last ball. Partner Jimmy Attwood was run-out coming back for the second that would have done it.
BRIXHAM tumbled to a 73-run defeat against Ashburton that cost them their C West place.
Going into the final round of games Brixham needed at least nine points to be certain of dodging relegation – otherwise they could be in trouble if South Devon defeated Teignmouth & Shaldon.
South Devon overcame Teignmouth & Shaldon by four-wickets, which meant the seven points Brixham earned against Ashburton were not enough to keep them up. They went down by 0.12 of an average point.
Jake Pascoe opened up with 62 for Ashburton and was followed by Matt Churchill with 77 not out in a 45-over total of 232 for eight.
Lee Upham (3-28) and Bradley McKee (2-49) were Brixham’s leading wicket takers.
Brixham got to 140 for four thanks largely to Abdul Muzammil (82) and Harrison Bodin (28), but 10 overs out were 94 runs short of victory and up against it.
Muzammil’s demise to Will Coon was the beginning of the end for Brixham. The runs dried up and they lost their last three wickets in five balls slipping to 159 all out.
A JAMES Tom ton was not enough to spare Plymouth 2nd XI from a 28-run defeat by C West champions Bridestowe.
Bridestowe went all the way to 272 for nine in 45 overs, led there by Tom Fogerty with 90.
Leon Horn (38) got Bridestowe moving then Fogerty, Bradon Horn (33) and Tom Pengelly (26) kept the scorers busy in the box.
Four bowlers – Dave Burke, Jack Hughes, Aziz Rahmanzai and Tom Hughes – took two wickets each for Plymouth.
Toms was good enough to play for Devon at his peak and is one of only a handful of players to make a ton on his county debut.
Some of that old form was on show as he made 128 opening up for Plymouth, and it did not go un-noticed by the opposition.
“One of the best knocks I have seen,” said Bridestowe’s James Ewen.
Although Toms had some support from Hughes (44) and Gareth Hart (20) as he took the running total for 201 for three, Plymouth were probably one more score short of a successful chase.
Once Toms went wickets started to fall and a couple of run-outs did not help as Plymouth subsided to 244 all out.
Pick of the bowlers for Bridestowe with four for 35 was Leon Horn.
RELEGATED Hatherleigh 2nd XI gave Cornwood a run for their money before going down by two wickets.
Harry Arden (73) top scored for Hatherleigh and put on 84 with Cameron Rowlands and 76 with Ruben Forrester (48) towards a total of 233 for five.
Josh Goodliffe’s nine-over spell for Cornwood cost just 25 runs and included two wickets.
Opener James Richardson pointed Cornwood in the right direction with 14 fours on the way to 79 off 66 balls.
Owen Gannon made 34 – he and Richardson added 61 for the fourth wicket – and with chip-ins from Jack Brown (21) and Goodliffe (24) the target was past in the 38th over.
Rowlands (2-14) made it tense at the end with a double strike.
