Devon D Whitchurch firsts v Babbacombe BABBACOMBE confirmed their league champion status with a crushing victory over Whitchurch. Whitchurch are left hanging onto D division status by a thread. The one consolation for Whitchurch was that joint relegation contenders Clyst St George also lost. Whitchurch have a slender advantage of two points over the Exeter team. This week Whitchurch host relegated Honiton hoping to break a long run of defeats. The story of the game is not for the squeamish Whitchurch supporter. Whitchurch won the toss and elected to bat first against the best bowling attack of the division. This decision quickly backfired with four wickets falling in the first four overs with only 5 runs on the scoreboard. Van Wyk (1 for 21) and Goodwin (4-28) causing the early damage. Rob Bone (33) and Billy Barriball (13) once again showed their ability, putting together the only stand of note as they took Whitchurch to 54 runs before Barriball became the first victim of Bates. In a remarkable spell of 3.1 overs Bates ran through what was left of the Whitchurch batting collecting five wickets without conceding a run. Only Sambells (7) managed to nudge the scoreboard into action. A successful defence of 68 runs was only going to happen in the happiest of dreams. The reality was harsher. Although Kerswill (3-21) managed to spoil a few season batting averages amongst the Babbacombe top order the result was never in doubt. Pugh (not out 40) ensured that all the points went to Babbacombe leaving Whitchurch with a long journey home and the prospect of a tense final match of the season.