LEE Upham bagged five for 26 as Brixham edged away from the B Division drop zone with a valuable 19-run win over Clyst St George.
Brixham were below Clyst going into the game, but victory has lifted them ahead of their rivals and four places off the bottom.
Good news for Brixham and Clyst was that both teams below them – Barnstaple and Braunton – failed to post positive results.
Barnstaple lost by seven wickets against visiting Alphington while Braunton only just held on for a draw against Plymouth CS.
Brixham were bowled out for 157 in the 42 nd of their 46 overs by Nigel Hardy (3-42) and Doug Wibberley.
Wes Fowler made 81 for Brixham, which included seven fours and two sixes, and shared in the only notable stand, one of 65 for the sixth wicket with Chris Sleep, who scored 26 of his 30 in boundaries!
Alan Welsh (28), Paul Richardson (20) and Pete Andrews (18) appeared to have Clyst on course as they were 101 for four with 15 overs left to make 57 to win.
Upham sparked a collapse to 104 for seven and with Simon Caunter (2-32) chipping in as well, Clyst were all out for 138.
Leaders Hatherleigh had the best of a drawn game with Bradninch in the first-against-second clash to stay six points clear at the top.
Paul Maloney cracked 88 for third-placed Civil Service as they dominated a drawn game with bottom side Braunton, who were hanging on at 126 for eight in reply to the homesters' 184 all out.
Alphington had Barnstaple 25 for five at one stage after an early duffing up from Andy Wilson (4-26), but the North Devon outfit hung around to make 121 for nine in 46 overs.
Alphington were always going to win after Ed Brown (32) and Trevor Newbury (28) put on 79 and cruised to a comfortable seven-wicket win.