Devon Cricket Board - D Division - Yelverton almost there

D DIVISION
YELVERTON require just 41 points from their three remaining games to be mathematically sure of playing in the C Division next season after another maximum points victory at Whimple.
Rich Goldsby-West led his side to 223-8 with a knock of 80 and then Ian Cunningham took 3-48 as the East Devon side closed on 209 all out leaving Yelverton 14 run winners.
Luke Whitton claimed 2-72 for Whimple with the ball and then Chris Palfrey (58), Kev Thompson (56) and skipper Ben Silk (43) led the hosts mighty close to a real upset.
Feniton climbed into second place after they banked 18 points in a win at basement dwellers Cockington and then learnt of a draw between two of their rivals for a promotion berth, Plymouth Civil Service and Roborough and Seaton.
Skipper Mark Kingdon scored yet another half century, his 51 guiding his side to 173 all out.
Russ Whitton (4-35) and Brian Cann (3-40) then combined to bundle the home side out for 90.
Kingdon said: “We seem to be timing the push just right.
“To slip into second place with three to play means from hereon in it’s in our own hands.
“What we need now is to hold our nerve and keep playing positive cricket.”
On Saturday Feniton travel to Filleigh who are another side still not out of the promotion race and then they host Honiton before rounding the campaign off on September 1, at Halberton and Sampford Peverell.
Seaton slipped out of the D Division top two when they were held in the promotion battle at Plymouth Civil Service and Roborough.
The home side are unbeaten since the second week of the season and they powered their way to a close of 276-6 with Ben Copp claiming all but one of the home wickets, finishing with 5-72.
Martin Bray led the run chase with 48 and that was also the sum total of the extra’s afforded the Seaton chase by the home side.
However, the chase was halted as wickets fell and the losing draw was comfortably secured at 210-8.
Skipper Ben Morgan said: “It was a strange contest for us.
“They obviously posted a healthy score and we set off to chase it down.
“We had targets along the way, the first being to make sure we got the two thirds total to get the two points and after that it was to ensure we got maximum batting points.
“We achieved what we set out to do.”
As for the run-in, Morgan says: “Obviously it’s disappointing to have slipped out of the top two.
“However, there’s still 60 points to play for and I am sure there are some twists and turns waiting for all the promotion chasing teams over the final three games.”
On Saturday Seaton host Honiton and then a week later they go to Filleigh before bringing the curtain down on the season on September 1 at home to Whimple.
Filleigh are just a dozen points shy of then D Division promotion berths after their visit to Countess Wear.
However, they were held up by the Exeter side’s tail and had to settle for 15 points from a winning draw.
The end result was a disappointment, especially for Mark Prideaux who slammed his second league ton in three matches with an imperious 123, all this after being dropped third ball without a run to his name! The Prideaux good fortune enabled him to lead Filleigh to 230-9.
Kav Diaz took 3-47 for Countess Wear who closed on 162-8 with skipper Peter Darke unbeaten on 34 and Carl Downes providing the best of the rest with 25.
Ryan Bowden claimed 2-20 from with overs for Filleigh who have three to play starting with Saturday’s home meeting with another of the promotion hopefuls Feniton.
Filleigh have their fate very much in their own hands for their remaining three matches are against sides also chasing a coveted berth in the C Division next season.
After entertaining Feniton they host Seaton and then finish things off with a final day trip to Plymouth Civil Service and Roborough.
Three wins and three big points hauls and they will sit in the top two in three weeks time.
Honiton are just 13 points clear of the D Division drop zone after they had to settle for a losing draw with visiting Halberton and Sampford Peverell.
On another superb batting track prepared by groundsman Andy Brinsford, Honiton closed on 219-3 in answer to the Mid Devon side’s 260.
Tom Sambrook (87) and Dan Coles (43) provided the principle contributions.
Honiton skipper Kev Kelly, who claimed 4-77, said of the Sambrook knock: “It was as good a batting performance from a single player that I have seen all season.
He never gave a chance and played superbly.”
George Meadows continued his good form with an unbeaten 75 whilst Phil Tansley was also not out at stumps, his knock, one shy of him having to buy a jug in the bar as he was left on 49.
Pete Matravers (39) and Alex Beighton (33) also chipped in.
Kelly said: “It really was a pleasure to bat on that track.
“We are not out of trouble, I accept that.
“However, there’s enough left in the three games remaining for us to make sure we line up in this Division again next summer.”
Honiton’s run-in does not involve much travelling as they stay in East Devon for their final three outings.

They travel first to Seaton on Saturday, then go to Feniton before rounding things off with a September 1 game at home to Countess Wear.