BOVEY Tracey lost ground in the A Division promotion race when they lost a high-scoring encounter with rivals Hatherleigh.

Bovey Tracey set an imposing 260 for eight the traditional way with two sizeable contributions – half-centuries from Jake Pascoe and Seb Ansley – plus several bits and pieces.

Hatherleigh’s batters did not muster 50 or more between them. But all those 20s, 30s and 40s added up to a win with 11 balls to go.

Hatherleigh remain second in the table, 16 points behind leaders Tavistock.

Bovey Tracey have dropped down from fourth to fifth. More significantly they trail second-placed Hatherleigh by 21 points.

Opener Pascoe top scored with 60 and took Bovey up to 119 for three, with some help from Slade van Staden (32) and Albie Bradley.

Bradley, still only 14, went on to make 39 before handing the baton to Ansley. He got on with it to reach 50 off 40 balls – and got out three balls later. The bits and pieces included Will Christophers (16), Sam Harvey (11) and Harry Mount (13).

Ryan Quick (25) and Rob Cockwill (40) got the Hatherleigh chase started, which had reached 96 for two when the captain got out.

Shrey Ghosh (36), Ryan Davies (41) and Jasper Presswell (26) between them got the running total up to 191 for five with 12 overs to go.

Although former captain Mark Lake (5) missed out, a stand of 52 between Emmerson Wood (25) and Paul Heard (35no) as good as won the match.

Said Ansley: “I thought we batted well in some patches but, on reflection, maybe we left a couple of runs out there.

“Towards the end, when we made it a bit dicey for Hatherleigh, we were left to regret the lack of pressure we built during their innings. They batted well and everyone added to the running total, with not much trouble.

“We have to focus on our performances now, tighten up our bowling and extras – and what will be will be.”

Bovey’s next outing sees them visit Bridestowe & Belstone and then Torquay & Kingskerswell before closing out July with a home clash against Thorverton.

Talking of Torquay & Kingskerswell and they will spend at least another week in the A Division bottom two following a four-wicket defeat by Bridestowe & Belstone.

The Seasiders have gone four games without a win and have slipped six points shy of the safety line.

Seamers Tallan Burns and Craig Penberthy did most of the damage as B&B skittled T&K for a paltry 84.

Burns had three T&K wickets for 18 runs when the ball was new. Penberthy (4-20) got into the middle and lower-order batters.

Nathan Roux (16) and Tom Lillywhite (11) made T&K’s only double-digit scores.

Bridestowe & Belstone’s run hunt was not without challenges, principally that posed by T&K spinners Harry Baxendale (4-28) Chris Kelmere (2-35) and skipper Harry Passenger, whose 10 overs only cost 17 runs.

Kian Burns (28no), in at 25 for three after two wickets in two balls for Baxendale, batted through to win the game.

As previously mentioned, T&K have a game against Bovey around the corner but before that, they have a must-win clash as they make the short trip to rock-bottom side Barton.