TORQUAY got back to winning ways after their defeat by Heathcoat with a seven-wicket victory over Bovey Tracey.

Bovey’s decision to bat first yielded a total of 214 all out that never looked enough at a good batting strip at Torquay Recreation Ground.

Torquay made the total look wholly inadequate by knocking off the runs with more than 12 overs to spare – Mitch Pugh slamming 102 off 111 balls.

 Victory put 20 points between Torquay and the relegation places, which will cheer skipper Justin Yau.

Bovey drop to fourth from bottom and are only 12 points away from the relegation places.

Bovey looked on top of the bowling at 100 for one in the 23rd over with Ashley Causey (38) and Rob Honeybul (37) going along cautiously. Pete Bradley (19) was the man out.

Spinners got more joy out of the wicket than seamers – as Bovey found out the hard way.

After seamer Nick Watkin broke the stand of 70 between Causey and Honeybul, spinners Matt Petherbrige and Reid Mawdsley tucked in.

Petherbridge took out Honeybul, Lewis Hammett and Ben Ayres in three legal balls to claim a hat-trick that never was!

His first ball to Ayres was a wide, which must have been galling for Ayres when he was given out lbw to the next one.

Torquay’s opening batsman Reid Mawdsley was given a chance to display his off-spinning  prowess and took it with both hands. He dismissed Tom Andrew with his third ball and went on to take five for 45.

Matt Golding batted through to the end of the Bovey innings for an unbeaten 54.

Pugh and Mawdsley made a racing start to the chase, reaching 135 without mishap.

Mawdsley went first – lbw to Bovey skipper Sam Hickenbottom – but Bovey had to wait another 52 runs for another breakthrough. Pugh was the man out.

Sach Galhenage was 42 not out from 32 balls when Torquay crossed the line.

Torquay skipper Justin Yau said: “Bovey got off to a flier, but our spinners bowled really well in the second half of our overs.

“Mitch Pugh batted fantastically with Reid before Sach went in to finish it off.”

Hickinbottom knew exactly where it went wrong for his side.

“We just didn't get enough runs,” said Hickinbottom.

“We were in a great position at halfway but we lost too many wickets in too few overs and nobody went on to get a big score.

“I think we were at least 60 short of a par score.

“Then Mitchell Pugh took the game away from us with the bat proving what a good pitch it was.

“He made it look easy and didn't give his wicket away cheaply, which a few of our lads did, which was the difference really.”