Devon Cricket League 1st XI A division

Tavistock 130-4,

Cornwood 129 all out

Tavistock (19 points) beat Cornwood (three) by six wickets

Cornwood have now had back-to-back lacklustre performances after such a promising start to the season.

Club spokesman Nick Goodliffe said the club couldn't afford any more slip ups, at least for a while, in their quest for promotion as, with only three points gained from last weekend, leaders Brixham now have a 23-point gap at the top.

The game started poorly from Cornwood, with wickets falling regularly, and never really got any better.

Tight, accurate bowling from the Tavistock attack never allowed Cornwood to get going; their total of 129, Matt Skeemer top scoring on 38, was all too clear evidence of that.

In reply, the Tavi­stock batters decided to get after the low target positively and despite a few wobbles, made relatively light of the challenge.

Accurate bowling, particularly from Adam Goodliffe, who finished with superb figures of 3-13 off nine overs, and also skipper Jason Hall, put up some resistance.

However, the total proved indefensible as Tavvy reached their target with eight overs to spare and six wickets still intact.

Goodliffe said there is likely to be an element of regrouping this week in the Corn­wood camp and that alternative options will certainly be considered as they bid to get back to winning ways.

This result followed on from a defeat by Hatherleigh the weekend before.

Corns would have fancied their chances chasing 203, Hall starring with the ball as he finished with 4-43, but their batting never got goin as they were dismissed for 146, some 57 runs short.

Four run outs in the innings revealed the extent to which Corn­wood were the architects of their own downfall.

Meanwhile, Corn­wood seconds were left disappointed last weekend after getting Paignton out for a relatively low 167, with Matt Tamsett taking 4-29 and Robin Dart 3-29 causing most damage.

Their reply, though, fell some 41 runs short, with only Craig Harris making any score of note with 60 runs, almost half the total score.

With only two wins so far this season, and hovering just above the relegation places, skipper James Horgan will be looking to get something out of next Saturday's clash at the County ground against Exeter.

The third XI had a great win at Kings­bridge, chasing a testing 180 to win.

They found themselves in very deep trouble when they slumped to 23-5 and seemingly had little hope of reaching the target, but an inspired 87 not out from Brad Nicholls, backed up with partnerships from Dan Stones (22) and Nathan Parsons (40 no), saw them home with the loss of only one further wicket.