BOVEY Tracey 1st XI were sent tumbling to a 71-run defeat in A Division by Torquay & Kingskerswell as the Tolchards DCL programme got off to a belated start.

Having been rained off seven days earlier against Budleigh and Kilmington respectively, both sides were looking for a catch-up win.

And when Bovey held the Seasiders to 230 for five in a 50-over game, skipper Seb Ansley was confident of a successful chase.

From a promising 114-3 shortly after the halfway stage, Bovey deteriorated to 120-6. And from 158-7 it was downhill all the way to 159 all out.

Said Ansley: “I was confident we could chase the total up until maybe seven down, but it was a case of no one going on to a decent score and a couple of cheap or ill-timed wickets going down.

“We have to take accountability with the bat and someone has to go big in our next game.”

Torquay & Kingskerswell were reinforced by summer signings Jimmy Clifford and Will Begy, who made 63 and 42 respectively in a fifth-wicket stand of 101.

Josh Thompson (21), Ben Pomare (36) and captain Harry Passenger (25) had already ground out top four runs.

Ansley (3-54) took three wickets and Albie Bradley (4-59) went one better.

“I thought we fielded well and most people bowled well, but maybe we gave them 20 or so too many through the odd loose ball in an over,” said Ansley.

“Clifford and Begy’s partnership in the middle overs was the match winner. They batted time and then got into their stride showed the blueprint of how to do it.”

Harry Mount (39), Bradley (21) and Ansley (23) dodged wicket-taking balls from James Tyler and Begy (3-15) to take Bovey to 158 for six.

Tyler (4-31) came back for a second spell to administer the last rites as Bovey lost four wickets for one run on their way out.

Meanwhile, last-wicket pair Peter Bradley and Jack Ansley completed a remarkable comeback by Bovey Tracey 2nd XI to clinch a one-wicket win over Clyst St George.

Clyst, all out for 206, had Bovey reeling at 126 for seven with big-hitting captain Dan Green just out for 19 giving Inder Singh (3-24) the charge. Jamie Bishop (36) and Sam Veal (27) had been the primary run getters up to that point despite the efforts of Par Singh (3-46) to keep them quiet.

A partnership of 32 between Freddie Harvey (38) and Ben Steer revived Bovey’s fortunes, only for Inder Singh to split them up.

Harvey kept going and got the target down to 21 with Bradley before his number was up at 186 for nine.

Bradley, a Premier Division title-winning captain with more than 5,800 league runs to his name, has been in a few tight spots before. Talk about the right man in the right place at the right time.

While Ansley (2no) kept his wicket intact, Bradley (18no) waited for the bad ball to arrive and within four overs Bovey were home and dry.

Clyst’s batters had a hit-and-miss afternoon once openers Charlie Taylor (54) and Ridouan Asselman (28) had been and gone.

From 102 for one Clyst deteriorated to 133 for seven. Without Owain Saville (29no) and last man Par Singh (27) they were destined for an early tea.

Veal (4-29) took the bowling honours for Bovey ahead of Bradley (2-29) and Green (2-30).