CORNWOOD captain Matt Skeemer said his side’s third-place finish in the Tolchards DCL Premier Division exceeded almost everyone’s expectations at Oak Park.

Although Saturday’s final game of the season, at home to lowly Hatherleigh, was rained off, the Wood had already done enough to be confident of third spot behind champions Paignton and runners-up Sandford.

Skeemer said given the selection issues the team faced – the departures of Devon duo Ben Beaumont (emigrated) and Ben Privett (Midsomer Norton) and long-term injury absentees, including George Thompson – third place was something to be proud of.

“When you look at the players we lost last year and the injuries we had. I think for the first month every conversation I had was about how people expected us to go down,” said Skeemer.

“To finish third makes the season a success as it is a big achievement.”

Thrashing Sandford by 218 runs was easily the showcase result of the season. In any other season, a 99-run win over Exeter and a 98-run verdict over arch-rivals Plymouth would have been in the frame.

Captains don’t like picking out individuals too prominently, but Skeemer said there were some performances that stood out.

“Mo Khan’s double-hundred on debut against Sandford was one, not forgetting Charlie Finan’s 178 against Hatherleigh, as was Stan Baker’s maiden league 50 at age 15 against Exeter,” said Skeemer.

Khan with 651 Premier runs at 46.50 was second in the Premier batting aggregates for the season. Only Exeter’s Seb Linnitt with 652 ­– one run extra – made more.

Lee Baker topped Cornwood’s wicket-taking stats with 30 at a highly respectable 17.6 runs each.

Cornwood 2nd XI will also be playing at the same level again next year.

The Wood were due to make the short trip to Kingsbridge on the final day but the rain put paid to that. They ended the campaign in seventh in the C Division West.

Returning to the top-flight of the Devon Cricket League and Tavistock are another side who can look forward to Premier Division cricket once more, after surviving their first season back in the top flight for a generation.

The last time Tavistock passed this way back in 2006 they went straight back down again. You have to go back to 1988 under the captaincy of the late Stuart Munday for the last time Tavistock played successive seasons in the Premier Division.

For current captain Sean Cleave it was a case of ‘mission accomplished’. Finishing sixth out of ten was a respectable outcome.

“The lads should be incredibly proud of what they’ve achieved,” said Cleave.

“We set out to retain our place in the Premier Division, and we’ve done exactly that. I genuinely believe we fully deserved it.”

Cleave and co were under no illusions how different getting up and staying up would be and were braced for some pastings along the way.

“It’s been a season of highs, lows and lessons, but ultimately, one that can only be viewed as a huge success for the club,” he said.

“We’ve played some really good cricket and, inevitably, had some big beatings along the way.

“We’ve also had some really magical moments up at the Ring, beating some proper top-quality teams and proving that we can compete at this level.

“Now it’s time to enjoy a well-earned break before we start preparing for next season.”