Devon Cricket Board - A Division - Heathcoat up with Sandford set for second

HEATHCOAT are heading back to the Premier Division having clinched one of the two promotion spits after a seven-wicket win over Abbotskerswell.

Abbots made 205 for nine in their 50 overs – thanks largely to the efforts of Charlie Garrett (74) holding the innings together.

Abbots were 140 for two at one stage – Ryan Williams making 39 in support of Garrett – then fell away badly from 155 for three to 170 for seven as Jack Menheneott (5-38) got stuck into them.

Paul Acton and Charlie Hill took Abbots past 200 and into bonus-point territory, everyone of which is vital in their attempts to steer clear of relegation.

Heathcoat skipper Sam Smith led from the front with 95 at the top of the order – and in perfect world would have gone on to complete a century.

With three figures so close he could almost touch them, Smith had a swing at Abbots’ Aussie seamer Williams and was caught at square-leg.

The target was down to 27 to win by then and with seven wickets in hand the game in the bag.

What Smith started was finished off by Tom Frankpitt (41) and Ned Menheneott (32no).

Only second-placed Sandford can catch Heathcoat now – and the 17-point gap between them suggests that’s unlikely.

Six points against Plympton this Saturday will clinch Heathcoat the title, irrespective of what goes on at Plymstock where Sandford need the same number of points to finish runners-up.

Heathcoat were always short-priced favourites for an immediate return to the top flight having won five of their last six games on the way down last term.

Skipper Smith knows it is a step up in class, but believes Heathcoat are well prepared for it.

“The last time we were up there we stayed for two years and although we came down we were never hammered horribly,” said Smith.

“We didn’t always play to the full limit of our ability, but a lot has changed over the last season and we intend to show that next year.

“Having Steffan Jones and Jason Parr come to the club has been a difference in our attitude and we are better for it.

“During the winter we are looking to sign some new players and intend to have a real good go at the Premier next year

SANDFORD handed out a 94-run hiding to Brixham as they closed in on their own return to the top flight.

The Creedy Park outfit were the other side to come down last season and, like Heathcoat, were tipped for an immediate return.

Had Brixham turned them over Sandford might have been in jeopardy of being caught by Plympton, who were only six points behind in third.

Plympton obligingly lost at Paignton and need Sandford to crash and burn at Plymstock to get past them now.

Linton Terblanche top scored with 80 and George Biggs chipped in with 46 towards a fourth-wicket stand of 130 as Sandford made 279 for nine.

The foundations had been laid by a partnership of 53 between Russell Discombe (29) and Scott Tremayne (40).

There were three wickets each for Brixham bowlers Josh Newman and Simon Caunter.

Brixham took no risks to speak of on their way to 185 for seven. It was all about collecting bonus points to keep them clear of the bottom two.

Fifty runs added in the last 15 overs for just two wickets lost tell their own story.

Veteran Andrew Lewin made 70 not out and George Northcott had 49. Chris Sleep weighed in with 21.

Brian Leach came up from the 2^nd XI to take three Brixham wickets for 35 runs. Jamie Palmer had two for 23.

PLYMSTOCK are clinging on to their place in the A Division thanks to a 13-run win away to fellow strugglers Hatherleigh.

Hatherleigh were three off the bottom with Plymstock immediately below them going into the penultimate round of fixtures – now their positions are reversed.

Plymstock are three points ahead of Hatherleigh with a game to go and at least have a fighting chance of staying up.

“We finish with Sandford, who need seven or eight points to be guaranteed promotion, which won’t be easy,” said Plymstock captain Dave Orchard.

“Hatherleigh’s last game is against Braunton, who are already down so you would expect them to win that.

“Having said that Braunton did beat Hatherleigh earlier in the season and with no pressure on them now who is to say it won’t happen again?

“At least we have given ourselves a fighting chance of staying up and will give it our best shot.”

Plymstock were all out for 128 at Hatherleigh and did well go get as many as that having been mauled by Simon Gillespie (3-33) and Mark Lake (2-21) in the top order.

Morgan Parkinson (28no) nursed the tail enders to get something remotely defendable on the board.

Hatherleigh started reasonably well until Gareth Tidball chopped Hal Kerton (2-23) on to his own stumps, then started sliding towards 72 for six.

As Orchard (4-21) and Parkinson (2-21) go into them.

Simon Gillespie (39no) led the fightback and in last man Nick Rogers (13) he found a willing accomplice as the target was whittled down.

Orchard through it was worth trying spinner James Nicholls, whose first ball Rogers biffed for four.

The next ball bit and turned, caught the edge of Rogers’ bat and was taken as slip by Orchard.

“The ball lodged under my armpit, but they all count,” said Orchard.

PLYMPTON’S promotion hopes are over for all practical purposes after they suffered a 56-run defeat at Paignton.

Technically, Plympton could still do it if they win at home to champs elect Heathcoat this Saturday and Plymstock to them a huge favour by beating second-placed Sandford.

Stopping Sandford getting the six points they need in bonuses is likely to be the problem though and Plympton skipper Jeremy Williams isn’t building up his hopes too high.

If Plympton finish third it will be a springboard into next season and another crack at going up.

“I'm am really proud of the way the boys have come on this season but in all honesty we have been found out against the better teams in the division,” said Williams.

Paignton recovered from 51 for four at half way to make 236 for seven – led there by Chris Kelmere with 76.

Kelmere put on 43 with Richard Ashworth (23) and 90 with George Benton (45) who carried on with Fanie deVilliers (30) to add another 46 for the seventh wicket.

Ryan Skinner (2-33) and Matt Gregory (1-26) bowled tidy spells with the new ball and Wes Hartsleif and Jamie Lee kept it tight.

However, Craig Donohue (1-52), Dom Mulberry (1-34) and Josh Mailling (0-41 off three) all got some stick.

Plympton needed a couple of decent stands to wipe off the runs, but they didn’t come.

Mailling ended in credit for the day with 42 and Andy Walter made 24, but a succession of low scores after they went contributed to Plympton’s demise.

Mulberry and Lee resisted at the end – putting on 40 for the ninth wicket – but the damage had already been done by Dan Wolf (3-26) and others before than.

Connor Bryan needed just five balls to knock over Lee then Skinner to win the match with 13 balls to go.

BARTON found Braunton a tough nut to crack as their relegated visitors pushed them all the way.

Braunton were bowled out for 166 with Alex Hodges (29) and Tom Mitcham (27) offering the only sizeable contributions.

Husain Badat picked up four Braunton wickets for 35 runs and there were two each for Adam Parker and Damon Calland.

Jon Baglow (5-32) then had Barton in all sorts of trouble as they slumped to 26 for five in reply.

Badat (34) and Andy McVeigh (48) started the fightback with a stand of 58 for the sixth wicket – and McVeigh kept on going.

Calland (22) and McVeigh kept nibbling away at the total in a partnership worth 37 for the eighth wicket.

Last man Will Wyatt came in with four needed and hit the second ball he faced to the ropes to win it.

Barton wind up at Abbotskerswell this Saturday.

Braunton face Hatherleigh, who need to win to avoid being sucked down too.