The Tolchards Devon Cricket League Championship is surely Sandford's to lose after they moved 24 points clear at the top of the Premier Division with a remarkable 12th successive win over North Devon. 

The five-wicket victory against bottom-of-the-table North Devon was not a surprise, but Jackson Thompson's side have only three games left, including Plympton, three from bottom, at Creedy Park this Saturday. 

Pipped by Bradninch on the final day of last season, Sandford lifted the title three times in four years (2001, 2003, 2004), but have not won it since. 

After Plympton at home, they have to travel to Bradninch (3rd) and Cornwood (4th) in their last two matches, but they are in such outstanding form that it's hard to see them being ambushed now. 

Thompson was calmness itself when Sandford lost at Bovey Tracey on May 13, following a rained-off cancellation on Day One.  Only one other 'abandonment' has interrupted those 12 wins on the trot since then. 

Wickets were spread around as North Devon were dismissed for 146 (James Tyson 44) in 35 overs, and it took Sandford only 33 to knock them off (Dan Ward 43, Lawrence Walker 32no). 

Tim Piper's 90 was not enough to save Bradninch & Kentisbeare from a 12-run defeat by Plympton, who hauled themselves out of the relegation zone in the process, at Bovey's expense - Bovey's four-wicket loss at Sidmouth (2nd) was their eighth in a row. 

Tiverton Heathcoat, dogged more than most by availability problems this season, went down by four wickets to Paignton at Knightshayes, while Exmouth's 237-7 (Dan Pyle 69, Finlay Marks 78no) was 66 runs too much for Cornwood. 

South African all-rounder Jason Niemand bid farewell to the Maer Ground with 5-34. Sidmouth at home to Exmouth has a special East Devon flavour this weekend and Bovey will be fighting for their lives at home to Heathcoat. 

The penultimate weekend of the Premier campaign could see Bovey bow out of the division at home to Cornwood, while North Devon, who have looked doomed from the start, travel to Paignton. Sandford will be hoping their final home game of the season, against Heathcoat, is a coronation.  

A long cricket season concludes on the first weekend of September and the closing fixtures include Sidmouth at home to Paignton, Heathcoat hosting Bradninch & Kentisbeare and Bovey travelling to face Exmouth at the Maer.  

Cornwood v Sandford should be a dead rubber by that stage and North Devon will already be thinking ahead to a brighter 2024, as they finish at home to Plympton. Whatever happens over the next three weeks, it has been another Premier Division campaign full of drama and some stellar ‘international’ contributions. 

'Little' Kilmington are starting to dream seriously of Premier cricket, and why not? 

A 'B' Division side only a couple of years ago, Kilmington chased a revised target of 165 to beat promotion rivals Torquay by two wickets (Josh Cann 64), and they're now 25 points clear of Hatherleigh (3rd), who lost by 72 runs at home to Tavistock. 

It was a third successive defeat for fading Torquay, although leaders Exeter show no signs of weakening after thumping struggling Abbotskerswell. 

Openers Charles Clist (137) and Cameron Edwards (156) piled up a first-wicket stand of 314, as Exeter posted 386-5 in a 206-run rout. 

Leaders Bridestowe struck another major blow in the B Division promotion race - Leon Horn hit 51 in their 185 before Craig Penberthy (4-20) and Tom Pengelly (3-10) bowled Bideford out for 90. 

Bideford drop to third place behind Plymstock. 

Callum Mitchell went to town on the North Devon 2nd XI attack, scoring 191 as Braunton kept 'C' East leaders Teignmouth & Shaldon just in sight. 

Braunton (405-4) eventually won by 155 runs to remain 18 points behind Teignmouth, but only one team goes up there. 

Exeter 2nds (242) are clear at the top of D East, but just eight points cover Thorverton (211), Upottery, Budleigh Salterton and Whimple (203) in the race for second place.