BRADNINCH recorded arguably their best result since joining the elite of Devon County League cricket when they beat North Devon in a pulsating contest at Kensham Park.

Bradninch took on and beat the side at the top of the table at the start of play, by four runs.

After being put in on a track that looked a 250 minimum total, the home batsmen did not disappoint. Led by the in-form Tim Piper (65) and skipper Ross Acton (61), the hosts closed on 251-8. There were runs all down the order.

The Instow side's reply was seriously hamstrung by a clinical combination of Actons.

Eliot Acton claimed one wicket and skipper Ross picked up two, as the visitors found themselves struggling on 18-3.

North Devon rallied and it was not until 137 runs were on the board that Ross Acton (3-89) struck again. Gary Chappell took the final North Devon wicket with just one delivery of the match remaining, with the visitors on 247.

"That was a top result for us, comfortably our best to date in the top flight," said Ross Acton.

Next up for Bradninch is Saturday's trip to Braunton, who won at Kensham Park on the opening day of the season.

Sandford's hopes of rejoining Bradninch in the top flight next season took a knock when they were beaten at home by Alphington in A Division.

Michael Guptil-Bunce was dismissed for 52 and the next best contribution was one of 17 from Jamie Palmer in a disappointing home total of 136. The Exeter side sailed home, losing just three wickets and closed the game out on 137-3.

This Saturday Sandford are at Exmouth. When the two sides met at Creedy Park on the opening day the visiting side won by six wickets.

Heathcoat recoded a seventh win in nine outings and remain one of two unbeaten sides in the A Division after they won by two wickets at home to South Devon.

The visitors batted first and, thanks to the combined efforts of Sean Wadham (5-33), Jack Menheniot (3-57) and skipper Liam Lewis (2-21), were bowled out for 202.

Joe Smith, celebrating his award of the captaincy of the Devon under-21 side this summer, hit an unbeaten 72 in excellent support of his skipper, who top-scored with 86.

Next up for Lewis and his men is Saturday's trip to Alphington who they beat on the opening day at Knightshayes by 71 runs. Heathcoat head into the game sitting second in the table, 19 points behind leaders Exmouth and 32 clear of third-placed Sandford.

Shobrooke Park recorded a fifth win of the season in B Division with a nine-wicket demolition of Clyst St George. The visitors restricted Clyst to 191-8. Ross Knoll (4-47) and Justin Dollow (2-53) took the wickets but the star of the bowling show was Ben Trenaman who sent down 13 overs on the spin, claiming just the one wicket, but went for a miserly 23 runs.

Pete Turner also produced a pair of stunning catches at first slip as the leaders once again fielded well.

John James then made 105 and Dollow chipped in with an unbeaten 57 as Shobrooke Park sailed home.

A delighted Ford said: "We really deserved that. To be fair, the track was a road, a real paradise and I felt at the toss that a 250 score was the absolute minimum requirement. We bowled superbly, Ben (Trenaman) hit the spot from the first ball and his shift was top drawer. John (James) obviously gets the plaudits for a ton in a fine run chase but the strength of our side is that every player can perform."

"As long as we maintain a high level of disciplined cricket then, in nine games' time, we will be able to savour the just rewards that come to a side who perform well consistently."

Next up for Shobrooke Park is Saturday's trip to Brixham. The South Devon side are second, seven points behind Shobrooke Park. Ford said: "There's no escaping the fact that this is a big game. We can travel confidently but not with any complacency. If we perform as we are capable then I am sure we will bring something tangible back from the game."

Thorverton are 16 points clear of the third-placed side at the halfway stage of the C Division season after they took a winning draw from the visit of Seaton.

Jake Crouch (50no) and Nick Taverner (45no), combined to help the Thors to maximum batting points on 210-7 and then Nick Barton and Will Denford both claimed three wicket hauls to leave the visitors 177-7 at the close.

With leaders Totnes & Dartington beaten at Ivybridge, Thorverton are now just two points behind them ahead of this Saturday's home game against Stoke Gabriel, who earned a winning draw when the sides met in South Devon on the opening day of the season.

Clyst Hydon banked a maximum haul of points from an 86-run win at home to Hatherleigh. Ian Sutton (59) and Graham Trude (49) were the top scorers but there were contributions down the order as Clyst closed on 254-5.

Kev Sercombe (4-53) and Dhanuja Nandhana (4-31) combined to bowl out the visitors for 168. The villagers find themselves fourth at the halfway stage, 19 points behind second-placed Thorverton. They visit Dartington & Totnes this weekend.

In D Division, Halberton restricted Ipplepen to 184-9 with Ritchie Durrant taking 3-47 in 10 excellent overs and Dan Coles claiming 2-49. A successful run chase was then led by Tom Sambrook who struck an unbeaten 96.

Skipper John Chilcott chipped in with 33 as Halberton cantered home to win by seven wickets. Halberton are at home to Ottery St Mary this weekend.

Tiverton went down to a fifth defeat, beaten by Feniton at Sampford Peverell. The visitors made 315-4, Paul Rendell taking 2-82. The hosts were in danger of an embarrassing defeat until the appearance in the middle of John Hall who hit 60 as Tiverton reached 191 when the final wicket fell.

Kentisbeare lost at home to Filleigh in E Division, the visitors claiming a single-wicket win. Kentisbeare were bowled out for 265, with Joe Blackmore top-scoring with 80, Andrew Chave making 40 and Pat Hobson 30.

Kentisbeare needed four wickets as Will Cleal bowled the penultimate over. He claimed two wickets and that left Andrew Chave to deliver the final over with Filleigh having eight down and needing one run to win. Chave claimed a wicket at the start of the over to crank up the pressure but Filleigh's last pair got the run to claim a thrilling win.

In F Division, Cullompton were beaten by eight runs at Cheriton Fitzpaine — a side that they thrashed by 10 wickets at Landspeed Meadow back in May.

The home side won by eight runs in a low-scoring affair. Ben Coe made an unbeaten 48 in Cheriton's total of 188. Gary Say made 40, while James Shere was the pick of the Cullompton bowlers with 5-48 from 13 excellent overs.

James Berry then struck 36 but, with Phil Cutler taking 6-44 from 13 overs, wickets tumbled and the last Cullompton batsman was out with the total on 180.

Two of Cutler's six wickets were family made, as his teenage son Jim held two superb catches for a caught son, bowled father combination in the scorebook.

Newton St Cyres entertained the only side below them in the table when they entertained Culmstock on Saturday.

Since an opening day win it has been defeat after defeat for Newton St Cyres.

Culmstock had lost all eight of their league games and it was the home team who triumphed here, as they won by 38 runs in another low-scoring affair.

The hosts batted first and were indebted to number nine Martin Pierce who struck an innings-saving 41 to lead the side to 156.

Tom Dowle also chipped in with late runs and then, after tea, Nick Vallance and skipper Carl Downes each claimed five wickets to bowl out the visitors for 118.

Hemyock entertained Exeter Civil Service and continued their recent revival with a five-wicket win.

Derek Art was the pick of the home bowlers, taking 4-32 as the visitors were bowled out for 188.

Andy Perrott then hit a superb, unbeaten 84 to help time the run chase to perfection, the winning runs scored in the penultimate over.

Adam May was the other unbeaten batsman at the close.