BARTON clinched the B Division title in fitting style with a humiliating 10-wicket win over Barnstaple & Pilton.
There was never much doubt that Barton would get the 10 points they needed to beat Hatherleigh to the title once Barum had been bowled out for a measly 111.
James Thomas top scored with 26 not out for the visitors, who were in trouble from the start at 19 for four and struggled throughout.
Steve Moore made 16 and Danny Donovan 14, but Barton’s bowlers never let them settle.
There were three wickets each for Rashmi Jinan and Stuart Bowker, plus two apiece for Tom Porter and Andy McVeigh.
Shaun Needham (41no) and Harry Moores (45no), assisted by 26 extras, has the game won inside 22 overs.
HATHERLEIGH defeated Chudleigh by two wickets in the winner-takes-all battle for second place at Kate Brook.
Chudleigh needed to win to overtake Hatherleigh, but looked long-odds to do so after making 178 for five.
Hatherleigh knew they could get home on bonus points alone – they only needed four at the start - and although they made hard work of the chase they got there in the end.
“We didn’t get our maximum batting points, which meant Hatherleigh only had to score a hundred when they batted and there was nothing we could do,” said Chudleigh skipper Jon Martin.
“It was on for us when we had them 75 for six, but they batted sensibly and once they reached the hundred it all went a bit flat for us.”
For Hatherleigh it was a second successive promotion and the third in four years.
Skipper Mark Lake said he was already looking ahead to returning to the A Division for the first time since 1998.
“It was a great promotion after only one year in the B Division,” said Lake.
“We were made to work really hard for the points by Chudleigh, but in the end I feel we got what we deserved.
“Now we are all looking forward to the challenge of the A Division next season.”
Divan Marias (52) and Lance Ames (26) shared a stand of 83 for Chudleigh’s third wicket. Matt Heather (27) and Rob Clarke (26) chipped in with 48 for the fifth.
Hugh Romans (30) and Ryan Davies (29) got early runs for Hatherleigh, Clarke (2-16), Heather (2-20) and Ben holmes (2-22) slowed them up, then Rob Cockweill (32no) and Rob Fishleigh (29no) saw it through with an unbroken stand of 60 for the ninth wicket.
THOVERTON finished a frustrating season in the B Division on a high with a six-wicket win over Tavistock.
Thors had more games rained off than any other side in the division – seven in total – which was three more than champions Barton and two more than runners up Hatherleigh.
Aaron Churchill (54) and Dave Manning (47) were the leading run getters for Tavvy in a total of 186 all out.
The wickets were shared aound with James Hope (2-40) and Jake Choules (4-28) having the best sets of figures.
Thorverton cruised to victory with Harry Choules (61no) leading the way.
Andy Codling (39) and Dave Baldock (23) both chipped in.
AXMINSTER won the basement battle against Dartington & Totnes between the two sides resigned to relegation.
Axminster made 136 all out with Nick Taylor’s 31 next best behind 45 extras. There were four wickets each for Nahan Caton-Robertson and Bertus Loots.
Dars were shot out for 126 in reply and lost by 10 runs.
Taylor took five for 62 and Matt Pyle three for 27. Lian Bligh (28) was the leading scorer for D&T
NINE-man Alphington were eight-wicket losers at Lewdown in their final game of the season.
The Alphas started two men short as Nathan Bright and Andy Hawkey failed to make it back in time from a holiday abroad.
They were further weakened by the absences of Alvin Pollard and Ben Morris.
Pollard stayed at home to play for the 2nd XI as his wife is expecting and close to her due date.
And Aussie Morris was dropped by the club for failing to turn up for a game two weeks ago.
Dave Haysom and veteran Ian Ainscough made 21 each in Alphas meagre total of 95 all out. Charlie Hughes took five for 20 for Lewdown.
Lewdown lost two wickets early on, but Harry Geering (39no) and Ian Perry (26no) put on 60 to win the match.
Pollard and Morris both played starring roles for the 2nd XI in a win over Kingsbridge, which staved off relegation from the B Division 2nd XI and sent Kingsbridge down instead.
Pollard made 127 and Morris 86 as Alphington collected all 20 points.