HEATHCOAT are in for an anxious run-in with Premier survival at stake after sliding to a 91-run defeat at Paignton.

Connor Bryan made an unbeaten 115 as Paignton clocked up 248 for nine.

Heathcoat had Paignton wobbling at 52 for four – James Onley Gregson (3-48) among the wickets – but a stand of 95 between Bryan and George Benton (50) hauled the Seasiders round.

Rob Shergold (18) and Bryan notched a further 69 for the seventh wicket as Paignton pulled away.

Tommy Sturgess (2-23 off 8) was the pick of the Heathcoat bowlers.

Heathcoat were all out for 157 in reply – Jack Dart batting through for 65 not out. Heathcoat’s best stand was one of 33 for the ninth wicket. Enough said.

The damage was done in the time it took Heathcoat to slide from 68 for two to 85 for six.

Benton capped a fine game with three for 37 and there were two wickets each for Steve George and Tristan Coetzee.

“It wasn’t a good day,” said Heathcoat skipper Peter Randerson. “Fair play to Paignton, they wanted it more than us.”

Heathcoat are one point and once place above the bottom two, who are Plymouth and Torquay.  They go to Sidmouth this Saturday under pressure.

Torquay and Plymouth play each other and one of them will go past Heathcoat unless Randerson’s men win at Sidmouth.