F Division - Woodbury humbled by rampant Chelston

Woodbury’s tea-making team did not have time to complete laying the tables when the game at Town Lane was over!

That’s because visiting Chelston had, by 3.10pm, bowled out the home side for 30 and then raced to a nine wicket win!

Pete McKell (5-17) and Mark Berry (4-10) combined to blow the home side away.

Chelston lost a single wicket on their way to a maximum points haul.

Chelston have a game in hand on all three teams above them.

If they bank 15 points in that match then they will be in a top two berth.

They have three to play whilst all the teams above them have just two to play.

They host Exeter Civil Service on Saturday, then go to bottom of the table Newton St Cyres before entertaining champions-elect Babbacombe on September1.

Babbacombe require 22 points from their last two games and they will be crowned champions of the F Division and take a place in the E Division next summer.

Steve Broad’s side remain unbeaten this season and they gave their tea preparation team a scare by having their match with visiting Chardstock all done and dusted before 4pm!

Bates (5-6) and Goodwin (4-24), combined to race through the Chardstock batting order with the final wicket falling ion 59.

Only skipper Rob Hutchings provide any form of resistance with a battling knock of 30.

Steve Lewis then cracked an unbeaten 33 to lead Babbacombe to a quick-fire eight wicket win.

Babbacombe sit this Saturday out before entertaining Exeter Civil Service the week after.

On the final day they travel to Chelston when their destiny will be decided.

The smart money is on them being crowned champions at Chelston on the first Saturday of next month.

Kingskerswell’s promotion hopes took a knock when they were held to a draw at Exeter Civil Service. David Lear’s side did bank 13 points.

However, maximum point wins for Babbacombe, Yarcombe and Chelston leave Kingskerswell needing to win their last two and hope for favourable results elsewhere if they are to bag one of the two promotion berths up for grabs.

The big game is undoubtedly Saturday’s visit to Yarcombe who sit one place and ten points above them in the table.

They then finish their season the following weekend with a home meeting with Culmstock.

Cullompton are still in with a chance of promotion after they bagged a 19-point victory at Cheriton Fitzpaine in a Mid Devon derby.

Sanjay Rajapakse (3-14), Malcolm Paiva (3-18) and Colin Grandfield (3-20) combining to bowl the Cherries out for 110.

Only John Pitts (33) and skipper Ben Coe (23) offered much resistance.

Cully skipper Mark Ashplant then guided his team to an eight wicket win at 111-2 with a knock of 24.

For Cullompton to bag a top two berth they simply must win each of their last three games and bank big points’ hauls.

They host neighbours Culmstock on Saturday, then entertain struggling Woodbury before ending their campaign at Exeter Civil Service on September 1.

Yarcombe’s E Division promotion bid was boosted with a maximum points haul at home to Newton St Cyres.

Richard Reed claimed 4-25 as the Mid Devon men were bowled out for 150.

Jonathan Rich then slammed a spectacular unbeaten century to lead the hosts to a nine wicket win.

Rich clubbed eleven sixes on his way to 112 not out.

Skipper James Mitchum said: “It was superb hitting and helped us to get the win sealed in pretty quick time! We remain under threat from a Chelston side who have a game more than us to play so what we need to do is make sure we win both out last two games and bank as many of the 40 points as we can.

If that is then not enough for us to finish in the top two then so be it.”

Yarcombe’s penultimate match this term is Saturday’s home game with Kingskerswell who start the day third, one place and ten points below Mitchum’s men.

The week after Yarcombe host a Chardstock side bundled out for just 59 at Babbacombe on Saturday.

Cheslton’s last three are home to Exeter Civil Service, away to Newton St Cyres and then away to champions–elect Babbacombe on September 1.

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