ABBOTSKERSWELL 2nd XI lost for the first time in 10 starts when Tavistock 2nd XI defeated them by 13 runs.

The E West champions-elect had won nine on the trot since Cornwood 3rd XI beat them back in mid-June.

Abbots were already assured of top spot going into the meeting at the Ring, but there was a three-way fight behind them between Tavistock, Cornwood 3rd XI and Stokeinteignhead for the runners-up spot.

Stoke’s 77-run defeat by Cornwood effectively rules them out and leaves the Wood (240pts) and Tavistock (248) battling it out for second place.

Openers Steve Luffman (38) and Ryan Burke (58) gave Tavvy an 83-run start. Middle order runs from Wayne Downham (38) and Marc Webber (43) helped the tally along to 226 for seven.

Chris Brown (4-62) and Jamie Lee (2-26) took the bulk of the wickets for Abbotskerswell.

Abbots’ batter Eri Gregersen went through 600 league runs for the season with 54 more as the visitors went off in hot pursuit. Jamie Lee (43) chipped in towards reaching 163 for four with 10 overs to go.

Gregersen’s demise at the hands of Ben Evans (3-40) signalled a change of fortunes for Abbots. They slowed to 202 for eight with 13 balls to go.

Will Small finished on 24 not out for Abbots in their reply of 213 for eight.

STOKEINTEIGNHEAD’S promotion chances were killed off by a 77-run loss against Cornwood 3rd XI.

The Wood recovered from a patchy start – they were 30 for four then 52 for five after a going-over from Anuj Tiwari (3-32) and S K Kuriakose (2-42) – to reach 212 for nine.

Charlie Farmer (45) anchored the Cornwood recovery, Mike Hodge helped it along and Jack Lane made 48 not out down the order at number nine.

Stokeinteignhead were there or thereabouts at halfway – they were 86 for three after 23 overs – with opener Hugo Longrigg (44) well settled.

Longrigg’s departure to Jack Lane (4-10) prompted a rapid decline to 105 for seven then 120 for nine and on to 135 all out.

Ethan Carlisle (3-33) and Adam Whiting (2-19) both picked-up wickets as Stoke collapsed.

TEIGNMOUTH & Shaldon 2nd XI slipped behind Whitchurch and into the E West bottom two following a 275-run thrashing at Plympton.

But with just three points between Whitchurch and Teignmouth & Shaldon, nothing will be decided until the final round of fixtures. Whitchurch go to Cornwood; Teignmouth & Shaldon are at home to relegated Dartington & Totnes.

Plympton batsmen Isaac Rowsell and Jake Agnew flogged Teignmouth & Shaldon’s bowling all around Harewood Park on the way to a whopping total of 387 for three.

The Seasiders’ bowlers probably hoped for some respite after breaking a first-wicket stand of 117 between Luke Oxenham (28) and Umashankar Gangatkar in the 15th over.

Gangatkar went on to reach 95 from 58 deliveries when he was second out on 140. Surely it would slow down now?

There was more pain to come as Rowsell went on to make 148 off 87 balls – 15 fours, five sixes – as he and Agnew added 230 for the third wicket. Agnew was run out for 98 in the last over.

Agnew had signalled his intent by hitting Gerard Starling for three fours on arrival in the middle.

At the height of the carnage, T&S bowlers Gerard Gillen went for 21 and Louie Brown 22 in successive overs.

Teignmouth & Shaldon were all out for 112 in reply. Dan O’Connell made 45. Next best were 26 extras.

Plympton skipper Adam Sellick bagged four for 19. Jack Sellick and Matt Duckworth had two wickets each.