ALMOST there! Ashburton have got one foot in next season’s Tolchards DCL B Division after defeating promotion rivals Cornwood 2nd by six wickets.

A nine-game winning run has seen the Ashes overtake long-time leaders Cornwood in a league with only one promotion place. Ashburton know a win against Ipplepen 2nd XI on the final day will do the trick.

For captain Lloyd White, it’s not over yet.

“We still have one last job to do and we look forward to finishing positively,” said White.

Cornwood found the new-ball bowling of Charlie Towers (0-19 off 9) hard to get away and lost wickets at the other end to Jack Warren (4-43).

Bits and pieces from Harry Woolway (27), Sam Griffiths (22) and Will Sharp (29) were as good as it got for Cornwood in a running total of 110 for seven.

Matt Churchill (2-28) and Steve Edmonds (3-19) kept the lower-order batters under lock and key in an eventual tally of 142 all out.

Ashburton’s reply was an altogether different affair. Only skipper Lloyd White missed out during a 27-over dash to victory.

Edmonds opened with 63, George Yabsley added 28 and the not-outers were Churchill (17) and Nick Martin (19).

Reflecting on the game, White said: “A really comprehensive win, and probably our most clinical during my ten years at the club, and it came at the best possible time.

“To bowl-out Cornwood for 140, when 270-280 was probably par, was an unbelievable effort.

“Jack Warren and Charlie Towers set the tone for their entire innings; Edmonds and Churchill were superb in the middle.

“Steve (Edmonds) then anchored the chase with another superb knock – and we had partnerships all the way through.”

Elsewhere, Teignmouth & Shaldon battered C Division West stragglers Plymstock 2nd XI by eight wickets.

Plymstock, long ago resigned to relegation, were all out for 105 in the 37th over of a 45-over game.

Opener Manum Chowdhury was fifth out on 56 for a top score of 30. Ben Whalley made an entertaining 21 off 11 balls.

Liam Gardner (3-13) made early breakthroughs for T&S. Morgan Couch (4-29) got into the middle order.

Teignmouth & Shaldon hurtled to victory inside 13 overs. Couch (48) and Harrison Linnitt (40no) took them most of the way there.

Finally, Jack Allen helped himself to four wickets, and Jonny Martin and Sean Andrews both took three more, as South Devon avenged an eight-wicket hammering by Brixham in the Marsh Road rematch.

Brixham’s top six was much changed from the one that chased 200 to win first time round – and the difference was clear in an all-out total of 129.

An early duffing up from Andrews (3-26) and birthday boy Martin (3-28), Brixham were wobbling at 59 for seven with match-pro Mo Shaikh already out.

There is nearly always a comeback in these situations and Brixham got one from Lee Upham (43) and Colin Horrocks (24). They put on 59.

Martin returned after a brief breather to remove Horrocks and two wickets in three balls for Allen had Brixham all out in the 22nd over.

Tim Robinson (2-17) picked up a couple of early wickets to keep South Devon honest, but all that did was bring in man-of-the-match Allen sooner rather than later.

Allen struck an unbeaten 56 – ten fours and a six – and Kalen Warne (21no) was with him at the end of a game that lasted just 51 overs from start to finish.