Budleigh suffered a fifth defeat in seven Tolchards Devon League A Division outings when beaten at home by 66 runs at the hands of Torquay.

Budleigh skipper Trevor Anning won the toss and invited his opposite number to bat first and saw the Torquay batsmen all make contributions down the order as they closed on a commanding 250-4 in 49 overs.

Indeed, the 19 from the bat of opener Tim Western was the lowest of the contributions with the top offering being a 62-ball 59 from George Allen whilst Mitchell Pugh got a 46-ball 50 and Josh Hunt hit a 78-ball 46.

In terms of the Ottermouth men’s bowling effort, Adam Jones returned the economic figures of 1-24 from 10 overs and Trevor Anning’s return of 0-30 from nine was almost as tight.

However, the runs flowed from the bowling of Sean Butler (1-64 from 10), Phil Anning (2-69 from 10) and Joel Murphy (0-51 from eight).

The Budleigh reply was launched by Marc Trotman and Trevor Anning, but they were parted with the dismissal of Anning, who was caught for 16 with the total on 35. Joel Murphy fell to a fifth ball duck, trapped leg before and, after Jonathan Bubb had been run out for eight and Phil Anning was caught and bowled without troubling the scorers, with opener Trotman eventually being out for 40, Budleigh had half their side back in the pavilion with 74 on the board.

That scoreboard was soon showing 89-6 following the loss of Lloyd Murrin for five. Alex Richardson, batting at number eight, joined number six Jack England and the pair provided some stiff resistance, adding 54 for the seventh wicket before England was run out for 25. Richardson was the eighth man down, but not before he had scored a battling 44 from 42 deliveries. The last two wickets fell in quick succession to leave Budleigh 184 all out after 47 overs.

The defeat leaves Budleigh just two places and seven points better off than second bottom Chudleigh.

This Saturday (June 23) it’s match day eight of the 18 match day campaign and Budleigh entertain fourth placed Abbotskerswell.