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Thursday, September 18, 2008, 07:00
The Instow side led the table ahead of Saturday's trip to Bradninch, and victory would have secured the title for the first time since 2001.
Even claiming 10 points in a narrow defeat would have been enough for North Devon. But they were beaten by 42 runs, picked up just six points, and now Bradninch will host new leaders Sandford in the title decider on Sunday.
After winning the toss and reducing Bradninch to 89-6, North Devon's hopes were high.
Matt Dart took 2-20 and Jason Hayes 3-32, but Eliot Acton and Joel Murphy rallied and guided their side to 171-6 from 45 overs.
That should still have been within North Devon's range, but they made a poor start, losing three wickets before they had even reached double figures.
Stewart Rhodes (33) and Rob Gear (35) appeared to be turning the tide, but once they were dismissed North Devon stuttered again before closing on 129-9.
Sandford moved to the top with a one-wicket win over Lynton and Lynmouth. The last pair of Chris Theedom and Richard Coupe held their nerve to reach the target of 188.
Lynton had difficulty raising a side but were indebted to William Falkiner, 13, and another youngster, Ricky Fleming. The pair saved Lynton some crucial runs in a tight encounter.
There were mixed feelings for Shebbear as they were crowned Division Four champions — but only after their showdown with runners-up Bude failed to go ahead.
Bude conceded the match as they also needed to field two teams in county finals on Sunday.
Shebbear skipper Andy Bryan said: "There was little satisfaction for the players in such an outcome.
"We had been looking forward to what would probably have been our most difficult match of the season. To be told that because a Cornish cup final had been switched from the Saturday to the Sunday we had to lose the opportunity of winning the league in style was hugely disappointing.
"It seems strange that Bude are hoping to enter a second XI in the North Devon League next season when their priorities clearly lie elsewhere."
Ben Purcell, the Bude captain, told www.devoncricket.co.uk: "It's heartbreaking. Had it not been for the weather forcing finals to be rearranged, we'd have been able to contest everything — but it wasn't to be."
Bishops Nympton will make a swift return to the fifth division as their relegation was confirmed by a 49-run home defeat to Kelseymen.
The hosts, who came up from the basement division last season, dismissed the Braunton side for 121, Neil Lockhead taking 4-45 and Brian Border 1-11 from nine miserly overs.
Despite the low target, Bishops Nympton fell short, bowled out for 72, with Dan Rance top scoring on 29.
Newton Tracey 2nds' 29-run defeat at North Devon 3rds saw them relegated to Division Five.
Tom Ansell (45), Jack Ashmore (36) and James Starkey (35) formed the backbone of North Devon's 185, with Colin Wadsworth taking 4-27. In reply, Newton Tracey finished on 156-9, with Andy Chatham top scoring on 42.
Heathcoat were confirmed as Division Two champions when their final game, at Hatherleigh, was abandoned because of a waterlogged pitch.
Morebath beat mid-Devon rivals Sandford 2nds by 65 runs to secure the Division Three title.
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