E Division - title race wide open

E DIVISION

THE E Division title race is going to the final day with three teams within five points of each other. Filleigh lead by four points from Honiton, who are a single point above Uplyme & Lyme Regis.

UPLYME & Lyme Regis claimed a tenth win in a row with an eight-wicket home victory over Kentisbeare. The mid-Devon side were bundled out for 93 with Adam Caddy claiming 4-20 and James Toates taking 3-15.

Skipper Ashley Caddy then struck an unbeaten 42 to lead his side to a maximum points haul. On the final day Caddy’s men travel to Kilmington with eyes also on Honiton’s visit to Babbacombe and Filleigh’s home game with relegated Woodbury.

Caddy said: “It’s going to be mighty close with our game at Kilmington and Honiton travelling to Babbacombe.

“It could well be that weather plays its part too so we’ll just have to be focused on the job in hand. I do feel that had we not been hit with the cancellations we have this term we’d already been crowned the top side.

“That said we have taken our campaign to the final day and you can’t ask for more than that as a skipper.”

FILLEIGH are the favourites of the three teams chasing the two E Division promotion places if only because they host winless and relegated Woodbury on the final day.

The final away day for Filleigh saw them visit relegation threatened Tiverton and Bickleigh where they won buy fifty runs to bank all but two of the points on offer.

Nick Dartnoll (39), James Hill (29) and Martin Brice (28) led the visitors to 160 all out. Paul Rendall (4-11), Stuart McDonald (3-29) and John Hall (3-44) took the wickets for the Culmstock-based side who then reached 82-1 with a run chase very much on the cards.

Sadly for the mid-Devon men, who needed points to stave off the threat of Babbacombe, collapsed to 110 all out. John Hall top scored with 42 as Popplewell claimed 5-16 for Filleigh who will expect to wrap up both title and promotion when they host relegated Woodbury in the final day of the season.

HONITON sit in second place in the E Division a single point above third placed Uplyme and just four behind leaders Filleigh heading into the final day of the season.

Kev Slynn (58) and Pete Matravers (23) led Honiton to 130 as Ben Noble claimed 4-26 for Kilmington.

The visitors replied with 122, falling just short of a successful run chase. Ralph Stonex and Tom Gooding both hit scores of 25 but the pivotal moment was probably a superb catch held by Tom Travis off the bowling of Adam Holmes.

Phil Tansley was once again the main wicket taker, finishing with 6-32.

For Kev Kelly’s side the final day mission is to match the point’s tally of Uplyme and Lyme Regis when they go to a Babbacombe side that simply have to win the final game of the season to have any chance of staying up.

Kelly said: “It’s all set for a thrilling and nerve-testing final day.

“We are in the box seat in as much as we know if we win and bank a full house of 20 points then it doesn’t matter what happens elsewhere, we will finish in one of the top two places.”

Babbacombe took their battle to beat the E Division drop to the final day thanks to a 19-point haul from a 101 run win at already relegated Woodbury.

Marcus Thompson hit 82 to lead Babbacombe to 181-8 and then took 2-30 in support of Paul Bates who claimed yet another fivefer with 5-21 as Woodbury were bowled out for 80.

Upottery’s outside hopes of promotion bit the dust as they were held at home by a Kenn side that closed on 159-7 in reply to the villagers 216-8. Stuart Drew (61), Jason Kennard (55) and skipper David Woolacott (43) all contributed towards the host’s total. R Parsons took 3-48 for the visitors who then laboured to 159-7 led there by Frank Koehler (50). Stuart Drew (3-17) and Gary Kennard (3-34) were the successful home bowlers.

 


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