STOKE Gabriel’s hopes of getting promoted as B Division champions were washed-out when their home game against Barton was rained-off.

Bideford and Stoke Gabriel were level on points going into the final round of matches with promotion already assured. Third-placed Seaton could not catch them.

Although there was no action on the Eastley Memorial Ground, Bideford defeated relegated Bovey Tracey 2nd XI by 33 runs to edge ahead and deny Stoke skipper Jack Tolley the leaving present he craved.

Tolley has stepped aside as skipper, a role he has held off an one since 2014. He came back for a third crack in 2025 after a sabbatical.

It helps to have the division’s leading run scorer in your side. Step forward Justin Pringle, whose tally of 752 league runs included 158 against Seaton and 141 two rounds weeks later against Bideford. He took 24 wickets too. Only Isaac Withington (25) took more.

Abhishek Anand (555) and Tyler Hunter (426) both weighed in with runs.

Said Tolley: “Justin has been incredible, but the team pulled together after a tough start with rain offs and a few bad losses in the league and the T20 competitions.

“It was a team and squad effort to get us over the line, especially when injuries hit our small first-team squad, but the lads reacted well and got us over the line.”

If Tolley was disappointed at having his pocket pinched on the last day of the season, it barely showed.

“It has been a great year for the whole club with the first team gaining promotion to the highest division the club has ever been in,” said Tolley.

“Our second team had a solid season in the E Division West and will look to push on again next year. The thirds went from bottom last year to third in their division. Our women's and junior teams have been successful too. 

“The club as a whole has been on a great upward trend since our relegation to the D Division in 2017. We had no junior teams, there was a lot of talk about folding the second team at that point, but we have come a long way.”

The side that gets you up cannot always keep you up, which Tolley fully recognises

“We will be looking to recruit one or two players to the first-team squad to add some depth, which will be crucial if we are to stay in the A Division next year,” said Tolley. “We will always up for the challenge though.”

Why is Tolley standing down as skipper now? 

“To focus on my new family and playing,” said Tolley. "Hopefully I can get back to scoring some runs next season."

It is all change behind the scenes two as chairman Tom Hannaford-Hill and secretary Hannah Rooney are leaving their posts.

“I have to highlight the efforts two people who have both had huge roles in positive changes across the club over the last 10 years, said Tolley.