Another fine knock from Andy Brinsford saw Honiton II to victory over Axminster II and al but secure a third place finish for the Mountbatten men this league season.

The meeting between the two earlier in the season had been top versus bottom and Honiton (as the top side) had scrambled home by the narrowest of margins – a single run!

Axminster, battling to avoid the drop from the 2nd XI C Division East, batted first and lost opener Peter Kiy (9) with the score on 27. They moved onto 42 for the loss of one wicket, but then lost Andrew Layard (18), Joe Elsworth (0), Sam Dibling (1) and Neil Fuzzard (8), to leave them a troubled 44-5. Corey Lapping bagged three of the wickets, Andrew lapping was responsible for a run out and Richard Hill also claimed a wicket. Brad Conway (9) and Matt Chenery (18) added 26 for the sixth wicket. Hill removed them both, Chenery via an Andy Brinsford catch to leave the Axminster score 76-7.

The tail wagged to see a further 34 added with young Ben Webb finishing unbeaten on 22. But a fourth wicket for Lapping and one for Brinsford left the Axe men bowled out for 110 after 35.3 overs.

Corey Lapping took the bowling honours with figures of 4-34 from 8.3 overs. Richard Hill (3-15 from nine), Andy Brinsford (1-20 from nine) and Ian Kelly (1-32 from nine), were the other wicket takers.

The reply saw Peter Beighton sent back without troubling the scorers after being bowled by Dominic Goodhew. However, even a four wicket blast from Sam Dibling; with three clean bowled and the other courtesy of a Joe Elsworth catch; Honiton were not to be denied thanks to an unbeaten 35 from Brinsford with Jason Charleton (4), the other not out batsman as the winning line was crossed.

Dibling finished with figures of 4-28 from 7.3 overs and the other wicket taker was Domini Goodhew (1-53).