Champions and promotions confirmed across Devon cricket

Heavy early morning rain tried its best to upset the penultimate Saturday in the Tolchards Devon Cricket League, but the weather forecast came true and sportingly allowed play as intended in almost every fixture across the county, albeit with late starts and reduced overs.

A nine-wicket win at Exmouth clinched a second Premier Division title in three years for Gary Chappell’s Bradninch and Kentisbeare. A 28-point lead over Sandford means they cannot now be caught.

But at the foot of the table, the last day relegation/survival “must-win” game is back on at Bovey Tracey. In-form Bovey won again on Saturday, by 139 runs at Sidmouth and Paignton comfortably accounted for Cornwood by six wickets at Queens Park.

Abhay Negi claimed 3-26 as the visitors were bowled out for 141. Paignton home within 25 overs, Charlie Ward hitting 56 of the winning score.

This leaves Bovey (177) with a four-point lead over Paignton (173), but if Plymouth finish second in the A Division, they can be promoted, unlike Bridestowe and Torquay and Kingskerswell, as they fulfil the criteria required by ECB rules and regulations. In this scenario, the losers at Bovey on Saturday will go down with Plympton.

In the A Division, Plymouth beat Abbotskerswell by five wickets to confine them to bottom place. Bridestowe beat Thorverton by two wickets, but Torquay and Kingskerswell lost at home to Tavistock, by four wickets, in a last-ball thriller at The Rec.

North Devon were crowned A Division champions after their three-wicket win at Hatherleigh. Bridestowe are second (227 points) from Plymouth (225) and Torquay and KK (216).

Chris Kelmere passed 800 league runs for the season with his 80 in Torquay and KK’s 199-4 from a revised 42 overs. Harry Passenger weighed in with 62.

Kelmere then took 3-33 as Tavistock timed the run chase to perfection. Will Scott-Munden scrambled home, with the required two runs, from Harry Baxendale’s last delivery of the match.

Torquay and KK visit Kilmington (8th) for their final match, as Abbots say goodbye to the division at home to Hatherleigh (7th). The other significant fixtures are Bridestowe at home to (all but) relegated Plymstock and Plymouth away at Tavistock (6th).

Barton can at last celebrate a much sought after return to the A Division, although the title race is going down to the final day. Cullompton enter their closing B Division fixture at home to Teignmouth and Shaldon with a six-point lead over Barton in second.

A win at Budleigh Salterton (5th), and a reverse for Cullompton, is needed for Barton to be champions. But there is added spice in that Teignmouth and Shaldon need to win to give themselves a chance of staying up, despite a two-wicket win over Chudleigh in week seventeen.

Barton’s promotion was confirmed with a six-wicket win over local rivals Stoke Gabriel. Stu Bowker’s 3-18 helped restrict Stoke to 149-9 off a reduced 35 overs. Tarisai Musakanda passed 900 league runs with his 43 in Barton’s successful reply. The celebrations commenced as Tom Drake hit the winning boundary in the 33rd over.

Ipplepen’s match at home to Bideford, Littleham and Westward Ho! was cancelled because of the rain. The eight points keeps them in sixth and they complete the season with a trip to Aish to play Stoke Gabriel (4th).

The C Division West’s title, and only promotion spot, was confirmed for Ivybridge following their three-wicket win at Ashburton and Paignton 2nds defeat at Cornwood 2nds. Brixham’s final home game, against Plymouth 2nds, never got started at North Boundary Road. Paignton 2nds (2nd) close the season at home to Brixham (6th).

South Devon need to avoid defeat at home to Cornwood 2nds on Saturday, and hope Yelverton lose at home to Sandford 2nds, to stay in the division. They had another bad day with the bat, crumbling to a nine-wicket defeat at Sandford 2nds.

It’s all to play for on the last day in D Division West, where Babbacombe can still clinch a last-minute promotion spot if they can win at Plymstock 2nds, who currently lead the table on 245 points from Ipplepen 2nds (244) and Kenn (242) with Babbacombe in fourth on 241.

A 43-run defeat of Plymouth CS and Roborough at Walls Hill, plus defeat for Kenn and Plymstock 2nds’ cancellation puts them back in the mix.

Torquay and Kingskerswell 2nds have to settle for the runners-up spot in E Division West as the potential championship decider at Chagford was a victim of the morning downpours.

Stokeinteignhead assured themselves of promotion from F Division West with a three-run home-win over South Brent in a very low scoring affair. And it was at Netherton Park on Sunday that Bovey Tracey made it four-straight Aaron Printers Cup wins, defeating Torquay and Kingskerswell by eleven runs, in the much-delayed final of that T20 tournament.