EIGHT years ago Sandford Second XI travelled to Tiverton Heathcoat and with victory secured promotion.

By a strange coincidence the fixture list has thrown up the same possibility this weekend after the side maintained their top position after thrashing already relegated Upottery by 100 runs.

Winning the toss Shaun Hawkins had no hesitation in deciding to bat.

Harry Everett top scored with 76 and there was 22 from Pete Steer.

James Theedom then opened up with the new ball and took two for 19 but the victory was secured with two man of the match performances.

Shaun scored 55 and then took four for seven against the lower order batsmen and Tylor Morgan-Huggett gave great support by adding 21 not out and then taking two for 20.

The Second XI are four points ahead of Uplyme and with only one team going up the fingers will all be crossed that the weather doesn’t interfere with what should hopefully be a successful end to the season.

The Second XI will be hoping that Knightshayes does not prove the curse that was inflicted on the First XI when they visited Heathcoat last weekend. This was always likely to be one of two fixtures at the end of the season that would define who were likely to be crowned champions and unfortunately it now looks as though this will not be Sandford.

It is never easy to know what a good score is at Heathcoat but having been put in to bat Sandford’s batsmen often got in but not one of them went on to score that much needed 50 plus.

Jackson Thompson top scored with 41 and was supported by Adam Small, 31, Harrison Jones, 25, and skipper Richard Foan, 23, as Sandford were bowled out for 184.

Jackson then took two for 36 and Andrew Buzza two for 27 as Heathcoat were reduced to 136 for seven.

This was as good as it got and the three wicket defeat all but ends any dream of the title as Sandford now lie third with the top two playing each other on the final weekend of the season.

Here the weather could be Sandford’s saviour but if that is the case at Bradninch it could be similar weather conditions in Tiverton and this could harm the chances of the Second XI.

Performance of the weekend goes to Alex Stevens who scored 142 for the Third XI in their victory against Chagford Second XI.

He shared in an opening partnership of over 200 with Ellie Bishop who herself scored 76.

Rob Stoyle struck 31 as Sandford reached a huge total of 286 for five.

Then it was over to the ladies who had just returned from a tournament where Devon Under 18s were crowned National champions.

Ellie took four for 21 and Jemima Vereker took three for 22 as Chagford were bowled out for 123.

This has been a very successful season for the Third XI with so many young players performing extremely well in adult cricket.

Going into the final game of the season there is a gap of eight points to the team in second place so promotion is still a possibility.

The most important thing this weekend is to finish on a high with all three teams winning and then the final league positions will take care of themselves.

Mike Canning