PLYMOTUH put some distance between themselsves and the bottom two in the Premier Division with a 115-run over outgoing champions Torquay.

Cornwood dropped below Plymouth into the second relegation slot after they lost to Sidmouth.

There isn’t much room for error though as Plymouth only have a nine-point safety net – not that much with 100 points to play for.

Plymouth made 233 all out in the last of their 50 overs – Jamie Walsh top scoring on42.

Torquay’s new-ball bowlers fared poorly as Plymouth openers Hamish Gardiner (33) and Anthony Atkinson (39) got to 80 for two in the 14th over.

Spin produced a breakthough – Sach Galhenage (4-37) striking twice – and when he dispatched Joe Hagan-Burt the city side had gone from 77 for none to 90 for three.

An 80-run stand between Jamie Walsh (42) and former Torquay batsman James Toms (32) took Plymouth to 170 for four with 15 overs to go.

Torquay did well in the time left to slow Plymouth down with Nick Watkin (3-27) the most effective of the bowlers.

Hal Kerton’s 35 off 40 balls was the main Plymouth contribution in the latter stages.

Torquay were all out for 118 in reply – their last four wickets going for just five runs.

Torquay never really got a toehold in the game as they were 24 for two, recovered marginally thanks to George Allen (31) then plunged from 71 for three to 72 for six. Game over.

Joe Thompson, the hero of Torquay’s Devon T20 final win over Bradninch the previous Sunday with an unbeaten 82, was out lbw first ball to Fahad Ali.

Dan Goodey (2-15) posed early problems with the new ball for Torquay, Ali (3-35) got into the middle order and Plymouth skipper Sam Stein (4-12) was too lively or the lower order.

Only Watkin with 29 off 34 balls offered much resistance and when he went at 113 for seven the end wasn’t far away.

Skipper Stein said beating Torquay was an important step in the right direction for his team.

“It was our best overall performance with bat and ball,” said Stein.

“Everyone chipped in throughout the game and it was a whole team performance.

“We had a good opening partnership with the bat then Toms Walsh and Kerton, all chipped in with good scores.

“Joe Hagan-Burt and Dan Goodey bowled well together up front and set up the second innings for us - then we were ruthless throughout.

“Fahad Ali had a cracking debut - everyone at the club is very pleased for him!

“We have Bovey this Saturday at home and are playing the cricket I know we can play.

“We will be going into that game with confidence.”

Torquay vice-captain Watkin said Plymouth were the much the better side from start to finish.

He added: “The first ten overs in both innings were crucial.

“Plymouth used the new ball excellently, whereas we struggled and they got off to a flyer.

“We did well to pull them back and restrict them to what we did.

“Then a combination of good bowling and poor shot selection resulted in our downfall.”