TORQUAY made a statement of intent on the opening day of the season with a crushing 10-wicket win over Brixham.

The defending champions wer ealways going to be favourites to defeat the Premier new boys from the other side of Tor Bay, but not by the margin involved.

Seamer Joe Thompson made the best of the new ball by taking seven for 15 as Brixham were skittled out for 60.

Thompson played a supporting role in Torquay’s title-winning side last season, but with Ryan Stevenson gone was entrusted with the new ball and took a career best with it.

Thompson had all the wickets to fall in Brixham total of eight for three after six overs – including skipper Andy Pugh to a second-ball caught-and-bowled.

Left-arm pacer Ben Williams, signed from Lewdown during the winter and attracting attention from Somerset, clamed Brixham’s South African dangerman Corné Dry caught  behind for eight as eight for three became 12 for four.

Another salvo from Thompson accounted for Mark Orchard and Stephen George as Brixham staggered to 18 for six.

New comer Geoff Brittain (14), an Irishman who has recently moved to the area, made one of two double-figure scores as Brixham carried on sliding.

Last man Matt Parsons with 10 was the only other player in double figures in the 27 overs Torquay needed to bowl out Brixham.

Torquay opener Mitch Pugh topped the Premier run stats last season with 734 and picked up where he left off with a rapid 48 not out off 38 deliveries.

Reid Mawdsley was six not out at the other end from Pugh in the 9.5 overs Torquay took to knock-off the runs.

You can’t do better than collect 20 points on the first day of the season, although no one expected the game to be over before half past three!

Torquay may have lost some talent during the winter – Max Waller, Matt Thompson and Stevenson  - but skipper Justin Yau says they have not lost the will to win.

“It was an excellent start to the season and great to carry on from where we left off in 2015,” said Yau.

“First games, particularly derby ones, can always throw up some results like like this and I was glad to be on the right end of it.

“We bowled very well on what was a very good batting surface, vindicated by their decision to bat first and the way Mitch Pugh and Reid Mawdsley played.

“It was the best spell I've ever seen Joe bowl and its testament to the hard work he's done indoors in a competitive league up in Bristol along with working hard on his fitness.

“Joe is a massive player for us – always has been – and is a match winner with any three disciplines.”

Losing all that talent in the close season encouraged Torquay’s rivals to believe they would not be a force this year.

Yau says anyone thinking that is mistaken.

“A lot of people have written us off before a ball had even been bowled and we don't mind that when we keep churning out results,” said Yau, whose side has now won 11 on the trot.

“It gives us the extra motivation we need and we'll just keep enjoying it one game at a time.

“I am sure Brixham will find their feet - they have some fine players in their ranks - and when they fire, they will win games.”

Brixham skipper Pugh – no relation to his Torquay namesake – knows there will be rivals quick to write his side off after the defeat at the Recreation Ground. His isn’t so sure.

“I don't think you can gauge how we will get on through the season just on the first game,” said Pugh.

“You can have a bad batting day any time and, unfortunately, ours was the first game

“We will arrive stronger for it next week.”

IT was a good day for the Thompson tribe as Devon captain Matt, younger brother of Joe, made a maiden century for new club St Fagans in Cardiff.

Thompson drilled  12 fours and three sixes on his way to 108 off 100 balls before rain stopped play against Panteg.