Devon Cricket Board - C Division - Axminster setting the pace

C Division - Axminster setting the pace

AXMINSTER made it four wins from four starts as they continue to top the C Division having defeated Plymouth CS&R by eight wickets.

Rob Prior finished with figures of 4-32 and Gary Larcombe picked up three wickets for 18 runs as Civil were dismissed for 133.

Johnny Hurford then thumped a whirlwind half-century from just 24 balls and was finally out for 63, leaving Joel Seward (31no) and skipper Tristan Wakeley (21no) to ease the side to a handsome win.

Said Wakeley: “A good start has become a very good one, but I am conscious that there’s always the next game that can come along and spoil things.

It seems Bideford and Kingsbridge are going to be the main rivals to our ambitions so we do need to keep this run going.”

Next up Axminster travel to fourth-placed Kingsbridge who have won three and lost one of their first four games.

“The next one is a big one and it’s a great chance for us to put some daylight between ourselves and a side I do feel will have a say in proceedings this season,” said Wakeley.

Brett Garner and Dan Murnane, both of whom missed the Plymouth win, are back available for the Kingsbridge trip.

CLYST St George skipper John Meredith is feeling confident for the first time this season as his team prepares for a away game against Ipplepen.

For Matt Cook and Chris Ferro both belted centuries – Ferro was unbeaten – as Clyst overcame Yelverton by seven wickets to collect their first league win of the season.

Yelverton romped along to 277 all out in 45 overs with big contributions from David Scott (67no), ramesh Perera (48) and evergreen Steve Luffman (40).

Skipper Meredith – freed from wicketkeeping duties – took three for 45 and Julian Welland three for 46.

Clyst openers Dan Takle and Ferro put on 85 for the first wicket before veteran Chris Pearson bowled Takle for 27.

Ferro was joined in the middle by Matt Cook and Cook in particular looked to be positive from the start taking 31 off Geoff Brain's two overs.

The ton-up pair put on 169 for the second wicket with Cook moving to his century before he was caught on the boundary for a well played 107.

Meredith came and went for a duck with the score on 257 and Ferro was joined by Al Welsh. Ferro was 105 not out when the line was crossed.

“After the start we have had this was a rubicon crossed,” said Meredith.

“With Chris Cook and Steve Bourke to come back in the next few weeks things are definitely looking up for Clyst.”

CHAGFORD sit third in the C Division table heading into the game against Ottery on Saturday thanks to a seven-wicket win over Dartington.

Darts found runs hard to come by against Steve Sizmur (3-32) and Tim Pitts-Tucker, although Bertus Loots (21) and Brad Mitchell (42) did make some headway.

A stand of 97 between skipper Harold Stevenson (39) and Josh Thomas (58) got D&T close to their final tally of 221 for eight.

Chagford won at a gallop with five overs to spare on the back of a 109-run second-wicket partnership between the Penberthys – dad david ( 60no) and son Paul (81).

Either side of the Penberthy show there were runs for Divan Marais (37) and Jon Wright (22no).

Darts will be looking to bounce back at home to Bideford this Saturday.

OTTERY need a win in a hurry after tumbling to a five-wicket defeat by Ipplepen which leaves them rock bottom in the C Division.

Former Devon all-rounder John Tierney was summoned from retirement to help the Ottery cause, but even with him on board they could only muster 154 all out.

Lewis Townsend made 32 which does not leave much from the rest.

The wickets were shared around with Keith Wakeham getting Tierney and ex-Devon colleague Mark Woodman in his two for 20.

Although Rob Johns (2-13) and Woodman (2-17) bowled tightly for Ottery, they didn’t have the runs on the board to defend.

“We were about 50 runs short on a very good cricket wicket,” said Woodman.

Seb Powell (38no) and Matt Nicholls (72no) took Pens over the line with time to spare.

BIDEFORD sent Kingsbridge spinning to a nine-wicket defeat in the top-of-the-table clash at Westward Ho!.

Kingsbridge were all out for 192 with an over to go – Ashley Treeby (37) just pipping James Fletcher (36) for top scorer.

Paul Shepherd (3-53) removed Fletcher and Angus Watson (24) mid-innings as Kingsbridge slowed from 93 for two to 109 for five.

Fred King (2-28) and brother Josh (2-30) kept it tight.

Bideford openers James Ford (42) and Matt Allin (78no) got the first 105 runs needed wiped off, then Jordi Gilmour (32no) joined Allin to take care of the rest.

Bideford now have joint billing at the top of the table with Axminster. They go to Dartington & Totnes this Saturday.

DCB Ltd, University of Exeter Sports Hall, Stocker Road, Exeter, Devon EX4 4QN Company Registration Number: 7024773