Seaton suffered last Tolchards Devon League A Division last day heartache as they were beaten at Cullompton and so will once again play in the third tier of county league cricket next season.

After winning the toss and opting to bat first against a home side who needed to win ever bit as much as Seaton did – but in their case it was to preserve their B Division status – Seaton suffered an early blow when Matt Hewer was adjudge to be leg before without troubling the scorers. To say the normally composed opening bat was astounded with the decision would be an understatement! Sadly, for Seaton, it was to be one of a number of decisions that went against them on the day – and led to much head scratching!

It was a fine unbeaten 62 from Joel Seward and an unbeaten 32 from Joe Berry, the pair adding 60 for the unbroken sixth wicket that helped Seaton to their close of 199-6. Other supporting knocks came from Brian Cann (26), skipper Ben Morgan (26) and Josh Cann (22).

After tea the Seaton bowlers made early inroads into the Cully batting and had them 57-4 before a 110-run partnership between Brendon Parr (83) and James Blackmore (37) set Cullompton up to go on and win the match, with the winning line crossed with just an over to go.

A disappointed, but philosophical Morgan said: “Taking away our post match despair at losing such a ‘massive’ game, it’s perhaps right that we acknowledge that, over the season, the best two teams we have faced – Tavistock and Barton – are going up and we have just missed out in third.

“The fact that we came up short must not detract from what has been a superbly positive campaign and the lads can hold their heads high about a season’s work well done.”

He continued: “I’d like to think the club will afford me the honour of having another crack at it next summer. I have enjoyed this season very much and the overriding post season thought is one of, had someone told me back in May that we’d go into our final game needing to win to be promoted I’d have sent that person off to have their head examined. On that basis it’s not been a bad campaign!”

It’s not quite over for Seaton for they have Saturday’s (September 8) Corinthian Cup top contest up in North Devon and, if they can overcome Barton in their semi-final they may well face a re-match with Cullompton who meet Upottery in the other semi-final.