BOVEY Tracey were sent tumbling to a 71-run defeat 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 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 for three shortly after the halfway stage, Bovey deteriorated to 120 for six. And from 158 for seven 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.