THE only way is up now for Plymouth after they hit the bottom of the Premier Division after losing by six wickets at North Devon.
Plymouth hovered round the bottom three all last season and just did enough in the last couple of weeks to get ahead of Cornwood and dodge the drop.
The new season hasn’t seen much of an improvement with just two wins so far – and now three straight defeats.
Torquay, who were bottom, beat Exeter on the County Ground to move ahead of Plymouth, who is seven points away from safety.
Plymouth go to Torquay this Saturday in a game they cannot afford to lose.
Losing the toss at blustery Instow did Plymouth no favours as they were put in and bowled out for 129 with more than 18 of their 50 overs to go.
Plymouth were 14 for three after an early duffing-up by Rikki Kelly (2-29) and Devon seamer Josh King, who had two wickets first spell and two more in his second for a four-for-30 haul.
James Toms (25) and Hal Kerton got the score up to 65 for five, then Steve Luffman took a hand in the rescue act.
The veteran big hitter curbed his usual exuberance with a bat in his hand to make 27 off 51 balls, wringing an other 54 runs out of the tail enders before he was ninth out at 119.
Plymouth needed early wickets to stay in the game, but only had Tom Ansell’s in the bag for 16 as North Devon cruised to 106 for one.
Fahad Ali (3-23) broke a stand of 72 between Dan Bowser (34) and Tom Popham, but it was too late by then.
Popham finished on 43 not out as the runs were knocked off with more than 18 overs in hand.
Dan Goodey and Dave Burke both bowled tidy eight-over spells for just 26 runs conceded.
Skipper Sam Stein showed his fitness is improving after a couple of injury setbacks with five overs for 22 runs.
With 12 games to go there is plenty of time for Plymouth to play their way out of trouble, once they rediscover how to win games.
Stein has highlighted areas for improvement: now it is up to the players to deliver.
“We are getting out in soft ways and have to take more pride in our wickets,” said Stein.
“We have the batsmen to score runs, but they need to value their wicket more.
“We've addressed what we need to do and have to work hard and stick together.
“I genuinely don't think we'll stay where we are, but a bit of consistency is needed.
“We are only six games in and there is a long way to go yet.”
On the defeat at North Devon, Stein said the toss was crucial.
“I'm definitely not making excuses but I would have bowled first too,” he said.
“I think our bowling attack is coming together nicely, but it's very hard to defend 130.”
Matt Westaway, who skippered North Devon in the absence of Ed Yeo due to injury, said the bowlers set the game up for the batters.
“We bowled in good areas from the start and made it pay,” said Westaway.
“Josh King bowled really well into the wind first spell and Rikki was swinging it from the other.
“They got some big players out cheaply by bowling well. The delivery that Josh got Plymouth’s overseas out with went away from him and hit the top of off-stump – it was a beauty.
“It was a game we not only wanted to win but had to win and we did ok.
“Now we have to keep doing it.”
