Tipton St John made it three successive early season wins with a seven wicket success at Stokinteignhead.

The home team batted first and lost an early wicket when David Birch bowled Thornton-Clarke.

Great bowling by Birch and Mark Channon kept the score to two an over for the first 16 overs.

A partnership of 81 ended when Phil Wright bowled Burton for 27 and he then quickly removed Lang, bowled leg before for three.

In fine partnership with Paddy Smye, Mark Russell scored his maiden century reaching 104 not out at the close.

It would have been different had Dave Alford hung onto one of the three difficult chances he had offered him, the first on the distant mid-off boundary off David O’Higgins.

Alford did bowl Smye for 38, but not before he helped to set a good target of 184-4.

Tipton were in trouble when Alford was caught behind for a duck, but a magnificent partnership of 163 between Phil Tolley and David Thayre took Tipton to victory.

Again, the fielders spurned their chances as Tolley was dropped on three occasions before he had reached his 50.

Thayre was out just before the end, adjudged leg before wicket for a splendid 73. Tolley reached his century with the winning hit, leaving him unbeaten on 101, recording his 47th century for the club.