CONVINCINGLY beating nearest rivals Bovey Tracey has all but secured a third consecutive Francis Clark Devon League 2nd XI premier division title for Sidmouth.

Today they visit Paignton, seeking a win which could make them mathematically sure of the championship – as well as avenging one of three defeats in the first half of the season, which suggested their run of success had come to an end.

But now, with three games of the season left, Sidmouth are 36 points clear thanks to the eight-wicket win over Bovey at the Fort Field, set up by a 5-33 analysis from Mark Jasper, in an unbroken 15-over spell.

Fourteen-year-old Sam Wyatt-Haines excepted, Bovey’s batsmen lacked the application required to last their 50-over allocation and were dismissed for 128, Wyatt-Haines remaining unbeaten on 40 after coming into bat 43-2.

Backing up Jasper was Fionn Wardrop, with 3-51 in another maximum stint, and Greg Chaplin took the two remaining wickets in five balls of the third over of his second spell.

Jackson Davey monopolised the strike in an opening stand of 35 with Sam Richardson, who made four, before dragging a delivery back on to his stumps.

Davey showed little desire for running, striking 54 of the 60 he made in boundaries with 12 fours and a six.

He featured in a 70-run stand for the second wicket with Jamie Wardrop, before chipping a catch to mid-wicket.

Wardrop moved on to 34 and Ollie Pyne played the supporting role with 10, as Sidmouth romped home in 21 overs to claim 20 points.