Feniton chalked up a third straight win and suddenly the Acland Park side, from looking set for a relegation battle, have leapt into a position from which a D Division promotion push is now on the cards.

Feniton chalked up a third straight win and suddenly the Acland Park side, from looking set for a relegation battle, have leapt into a position from which a D Division promotion push is now on the cards.

It was their own emphatic win at bottom side Whitchurch, combined with surprise defeats for second placed Ashburton and third placed Yelverton, that opened the door for Feniton to leap into the promotion picture and they are one of six clubs, separated by just twenty points, battling to join champions-elect, Lewdown, in the C Division next season.

It was skipper Mark Kingdon who led from the front at Whitchurch, cracking an imperious unbeaten 146. Such was the Kingdon dominance of the proceedings that the next best contribution was that of opener Martin Swannell with 36, as Feniton closed on a healthy 273-6. Jon Pyle then claimed 3-32 and Charlie Selley bagged a brace for 27, as the hosts were bowled out for 122.

Feniton skipper Kingdon said of his side’s appearance in the cluster of clubs chasing second spot: “All we can do is look to win our games and see where it leaves us. With four matches to contest and 80 points up for grabs, also, let’s not forget that, with six sides in the mix, some will meet each other, there are bound to be some strange results from hereon in. What we must do is focus on ourselves, not concern ourselves with other matches and, hopefully, what we do will be enough.”

Axminster were beaten for the fifth time this term when they went down by 19 runs to Chagford in a low scoring affair. Raul East (3-31), Ben Fuzzard (3-35), Alex Wraight (2-16) and Nick Taylor (2-47) were the wicket takers as Chagford were bowled out for 132. However, that seemingly meagre total was sufficient to win the game as Axminster were then undone to the tune of 113. In the post tea session, only Steven Wakeley (47) and Danny Larcombe (20) were able to make any impression as the ball stayed on top throughout. With 20 extras, it meant that Wakeley and Larcombe apart, the other nine batsmen contributed the grand sum of 26 between them! This weekend Axminster, who are two places, but a comfortable 34 points above the B Division drop zone, travel to second in the table Brixham.

Seaton, who continue to endure an up and down campaign as they slipped to a fourth defeat – they have now lost more C Division games than they have won – were bowled out for 105 in reply to Ivybridge’s 188. Benn Copp (3-38), Joust Kroesen (3-48) and Joe Berry (2-27) combined to see the Bridger’s bowled out, but then only John Waterhouse (47) and South African Kroesen (28) had any post-tea success. This weekend Mike Wheeler’s side, who sit 27 points and three places above the drop zone and twice as many points shy of the top two, travel to promotion chasing Clyst Hydon.

Ottery St Mary chalked up a fifth successive victory and launched themselves into what is now a six team charge for the promotion place up for grabs to join Lewdown in the C Division next season with a wonderful victory at home to third placed Yelverton. Batting first, the Otters were bundled out for 127 in just 33.3 overs. Opener Barry Flicker top scored with 28 and there was also what proved to be a crucial five-boundary 24 from number nine bat Nick Dowman. That meagre home offering was still sufficient to earn the hosts a fifth straight win as they then skittled the visitors out for just 89 with Dowman completing a fabulous all-round effort with five wickets for just seven runs from 6.1 overs. Ottery scorer Pete Gascoigne, a veteran scorer into his third decade with the book, said of the contest: “It was one of the most remarkable games I have scored for a long long time, compelling cricket from first ball to last.”

Ottery head for Lewdown on Saturday with the home side needing to secure nine points to seal the title. Any sort of respectable points tally will keep the Otters very much in the promotion race with what will then be three remaining games after the weekend matches.

Uplyme remain troubled by the prospect of relegation from the D Division after they were beaten for the sixth time and it looks like being a straight fight between them and Tiverton as to who joins doomed Whitchurch in the E Division next term.

The two Caddy’s, Ashley and Adam, shared six wickets as Halberton were restricted to 185-9, but then only Ashley Caddy made any significant runs with a knock of 38 as the reply floundered twenty runs short on 165.

This weekend, Adam Caddy leads the villagers into a home meeting with promotion chasing Ashburton.

Whimple regained the leadership of the E Division after they banked maximum points with an eight wicket win in the East Devon derby at Upottery and then heard of morning leaders Countess Wear’s inability to see off the tail end charlie’s at Babbacombe. Chris Palfrey (4-14), Phil Hope (3-41) and Will Cleal (2-18) combined with devastating effect to bowl out hosts Upottery for 118. Only Dan Broome (22) and Mark Joyce (18) could make any headway and then Mike Searle (45) and Palfrey, with an unbeaten 37, saw the visitors to a comfortable win.

Kilmington have still won just three of their fourteen games this term after they were denied victory at Kingskerswell by the final pair seeing the hosts to 162-9 in reply to the Kilmington offering of 231-7.

Honiton raced to a maximum point’s victory and had their game with Cheriton Fitzpaine done and dusted by 4.25pm! This season, against Mid Devon opposition, Honiton have had plenty of success in bundling sides out for less than one hundred. They’ve run through Hemyock for 19, Culmstock for 46, Newton St Cyres for 21 and 74, Cullompton for 94 and now Cheriton Fitzpaine for 56! Phil Tansley claimed 5-17 and Kev Kelly (3-18) did most of the damage. However, the afternoon’s wicket taking was begun by 15-year-old Adam Thompson, making his senior debut for the Mountbatten Park side and he sent down his six overs, taking 2-11.

Rob Ingram (40) and Brad Groves (13) then used up just eight overs racing the hosts to a ten wicket win.

What’s more, when news filtered through of Kenn’s second defeat of the season, beaten by nine runs at home by Shaldon, it left the Mountbatten Park men sitting top of the table with just four match days remaining in the season. This weekend, Honiton entertain Hemyock who they bowled out for just 19 when the sides met on the third Saturday of the season! On that occasion, Phil Tansley took 6-3 and Kev Kelly, 4-8, more of the same on Saturday and Honiton can surely begin to plot their course through the E Division.

Yarcombe skipper Nigel Parris missed his side’s meeting with Culmstock owing to the arrival of a new baby into the family, with the birth of Archie! He had forewarned his side of the threat that Will Gingell posed and his prophecy rang true as Gingell cracked a superb 96 to lead the visitors to a four wicket win. The in-form Jonathan Rich was again amongst the runs with a stylish 64, but only Simon Durrant could provide a supporting innings with 30. From 84 without loss, the home effort collapsed to 121-9 before last pair Darren Copp and Mike Barnes added 56 for the final wicket to take the innings to a close of 177.

Copp then claimed three wickets and Richard Reed bagged a brace as Gingell led the visitors to their win.

This weekend, with Parris – new baby duties permitting - back in the ranks, Yarcombe host Exeter Civil Service.