Axminster had just about the perfect day on the first Saturday of August as they claimed a 20-point success over Kingsbridge and then learnt of defeats for the three teams sitting immediately below them in the leading berths in the C Division table.

Once again it was the all-round strength of the Cloakham Lawn side that came to the fore.

First up, the bowling attack did the business with Robbie Prior (3-25), Matt Pyle (3-27) and Joel Seward (2-10) combining to bowl fourth placed Kingsbridge out for 133.Gary Larcombe and Nick Taylor were the other wicket takers.

Gary Larcombe led the run chase with the top contribution of 38 whilst skipper Tristan Wakeley (32no) and Joel Seward (29no) saw the side over the winning line.

Wakeley said: “It really was a very thorough all-round performance. I felt, having looked at their (Kingsbridge) past results, that they are a side who chase confidently so when I won the toss sticking them in was the obvious decision. It paid off and we did bowl very well. I was confident, but not complacent, at tea, and that’s how I want us all to be in terms of our focus over the last four games. If we collectively do that then we will achieve our goal!”

The win, plus those defeats to third placed Ipplepen and fifth placed Ottery St Mary, leave Axminster requiring just 44 points from their remaining four matches to be sure of starting next season in the third tier of Francis Clark Devon league cricket.

Wakeley says: “We can now take on Bideford knowing that it’s only a must-win game in terms of any hopes we have of winning the title. We have that cushion at the moment, but also have Ipplepen to play in the last four, so there really cannot be any form of complacency. The bigger picture is planning to get this club into the B Division and then target further progress.”

Axminster II sit seven points clear of Countess Wear II in the race to land a place in the C Division of the 2nd XI competition next season. Their tenth win of the season was an emphatic 10-wicket triumph over hosts Kilmington II who they bowled out for 150 with Dan Fuzzard taking 4-24 and the Sean Perry cracked an unbeaten 112 to lead his side to a big win.