Devon Cricket Board - B Division - Chudleigh on way back

CHUDLEIGH are on their way back to the A Division after a four-year absence following an 88-run win at Barnstaple that clinched promotion.

The Kate Brook side have been knocking on the door ever since they dropped down a level, finishing fourth in their first year down and third in the two after that.

It’s been a three-way fight with Lewdown and Ivybridge all season for Chudleigh, with Tavistock never far enough behind to be discounted.

With promotion in the bag it’s time to relax for Chudleigh skipper Jon Martin, at least for now.

“I am not sure if I am pleased or relieved at being promoted – probably a bit of both,” said Martin.

“Relieved certainly after the last two years of being second as you do wonder if it will ever happen?

“It would have been great to go up as champions, but runners up is just as acceptable.

“We will take a bit of a break before we start planning for next season, but I don’t see too many things that need changing.”

Chudleigh will be looking for a new overseas player in 2014 as Scott Schaw won’t be coming back. He looks likely to play in London instead.

“We will need a new overseas, but there isn’t much need to change the team as our younger element have gained experience over the past few years and are looking forward to the challenge.”

Ed Foreman (76) and Matt Heather (50) both made half-centuries in Chudleigh’s total of 250 for eight.

Derek Perry (31) and Foreman opened up with 87 for the first wicket, then Foreman and Heather notched 93 for the second. George McEndoo took four for 53.

Barnstaple were all out in reply for 162 – Martin, Sean Day and Jack Vittles taking three wickets each. The odd one out went to Rob Clarke.

Barnstaple were reeling at 96 for six before Lee Cole (36) dug in. Tail enders James Russell (24) and Mark Metters (20) kept Chudleigh out in the field longer than they had hoped.

SHOBROOKE Park won’t be dwelling on the season just ended, which culminated in a 154-run drubbing by Tavistock.

Ian Grey flogged the Shobrooke bowking for 128 not out and Dave Manning clouted 52 in a total of 247 for five declared.

Phil Anning’s three for 38 was as good as it got for Shobrooke.

Travis Muller (4-16) and Shaun Cleave (3-14) then shot Shobrooke out for 91. No one reached 20.

Shobrooke only batted 10 men as Pete Turner suffered an injury in the field and saw no reason to go out.

“We were beaten by then so there was no point asking him to pad up, said skipper Chris Ford.

“Muller was a bit to quick and a bit too straight for us ‘oldies’ at the start and after he had finished it was only going one way.”

Having been relegated from the A Division with South Devon last season, Shobrooke wanted to consolidate this year.

They finished closer to the bottom than the top, but with a 30-point safety net.

Ford said a school report would read ‘could do better’, which is the challenge for whoever replaces him next season.

“We have been poor in the second half of the season, only winning twice since halfway,” said Ford.

“Losing Justin Dollow half way through the season didn’t help as he was our leading wicket taker.

“We need someone taking four and fives, not twos and threes for 35 or 40, as that’s what wins games.”

THORVERTON beat Alphington by 92 runs to send the city side down to the C Division.

Alphington were always on a hiding to nothing at Station Road as they needed to win and hope South Devon won at Stoke Gabriel to have any chance of staying up.

As South Devon hadn’t won a game all season, pinning any hopes on then wasn’t a good idea.

It was run all the way for Thorverton, who racked up 292 for eight in 45 over.

Vice-captain Dave Baldock top scored with 92, putting on 134 with Kobi Francis-Griggs

An added bonus for Thors was to seen Graham White (42) in the runs. He and Harry Choules (28) added 80.

Alphington found wickets hard to come by, although Tom Bath did take four for 65.

Alphington set off in hot pursuit with opener Dave Haysom blazing to 78 before he was first out at 93.

Nick Barton (5-21) and Jake Choules (3-29) started working through the Alphington order as they dipped to 125 for five.

Nathan Bright (37) and Lee Rowe (32) resisted, but once they went it was downhill to 200 all out.

For Alphington, who have been relegated twice in the last three seasons, the only way is up.

“One thing is for sure we will want to make sure we return to the B Division next season ,” said captain Stuart Shaw.

“All my players will be more than capable to take us back up.”

“With some better batting performances this season, we would still be in the B Division.

“Early winter nets will be top of our agenda for next season.”

STOKE Gabriel skipper Josh Dowling signed off with a century as the Villagers defeated South Devon by 221 runs to banish the threat of relegation once and for all.

Stoke could have been caught by Alphington had they lost to South Devon and the city side won at Thorverton.

As Alphington came a cropper by 92 runs at Thorverton, it was curtains for them along with South Devon, whose own fate was obvious within a few weeks of the season staring.

South Devon have now gone two full seasons without winning a league game as they have dropped from the A to the C Division.

Stoke Gabriel were in some trouble at 95 for five after a roughing up from Dave Amery (2-39) and Kalen Warne (2-28) before Dowling and Andy Lockyer got together.

Dowling stroked an unbeaten 130 while former South Devon colt Lockyer made 92 not out in a stand of 202 for the fifth.

South Devon have been on the wrong end of some serious record-breaking this season and Stoke were responsible for another.

Dowling and Lockyer’s stand of 202 was broke the previous best of 133 in the division for the fifth wicket set by Cockington duo Marcus Green and Darren Scott against Alphington in 1994.

South Devon were all out for 80 in reply, that man Lockyer taking four for 20. There were three each for Jack Tolley and Nick Sandbrook.

Aussie Dowling went back to Stoke Gabriel from Abbotskerswell this season to skipper the side on their return to the B Division.

The South Devon game is likely to be his last as a return Down Under beckons.

“I am not certain one way or the other yet, but if it does turn out to be my last game it was a good way to finish,” said Dowling.

LEWDOWN are already talking to record-breaking batsman Marco Marais about returning to the club next season after clinching the B Division title with a seven-wicket win over Ivybridge.

Ivybridge, who chased Lewdown and Chudleigh all season for one of the promotion spots, crumbled to 117 all out.

Jeewan deSilva to scored with 35 and there were 32 extras in an unimpressive total.

Ben Williams took the wicket of Ivybridge skipper Gareth Andrews with the first ball of the match, which seemed to set the tone!

After Dave Ball made 27 to start the chase, Marais made a rapid 59 not out to win the game in just 18 overs.

Marais has made 1,357 runs at an average of 135.7. He has scored one double hundred, six other centuries and three half-centuries.

The young South African with a handful of games for Border under his belt, holds the record for the most runs scored in a B Division season. Brixham's Martin Gleeson (1059) set the old record back in 1997.

Lewdown hope to have Marais back for their assault on the A Division in 2014. But that depends on the cost.

“We are only a small village club and don’t have a massive budget,” said skipper Harry Geering.

“Talking to other captains it’s clear we don’t pay as much as some of the other teams in our division for overseas players.

“Marco has attracted a lot of attention this year because of the runs he has scored – and better-off clubs are bound to be interested in him.

“We would love to have him back next year, but it is by no means certain.”