EXMOUTH consolidated their grip on top spot in the A Division with a 46-run win at Torquay.

Three wickets each for Harry Passenger (3-34) and Jono Colegate (3-40) helped Torquay bowl-out Exmouth for 214. Only Exeter and Budleigh Salterton have previously taken all 10 Exmouth wickets this season.

Run machine opener Jason Niemand took it steady to reach 71 in Exmouth’s running total of 191 for seven. Dan Pyle (34) had the only other score above 20.

Torquay were 20 for three after an early going over from Pete Turnbull (2-23) and the picture looked little better at 69 for five with Chris Kelmere (39) just out after the Greenway brothers got involved.

Colegate (40) and Reuben Stanley (21) made an effort at a fightback, but the damage had already been done.

With Fin Marks spinning his way to three for 31, Torquay were bowled out for 168.

Exmouth (186pts) are now 25 points clear of Plympton (161) at the top with Budleigh (153) third and Torquay (151) down from second to fourth.

Lawrence Greenway, the Exmouth captain, said: “It was a great win on a tough wicket against a really strong side. 

“Once the ball went soft it was difficult to score when the ball was in the right areas. 

"Jason played a gritty innings and had some support throughout. Pleased to get 214 although we felt we were 30 short.”

Greenway said early breakthroughs were crucial to stymying the Torquay run chase. 

“Pete (Turnbull) and George (Greenway) set the tone really well with the new ball and that opening spell made it a difficult game for Torquay to win from 20 for three,” said the captain.

“All the bowlers worked really hard and it was a very pleasing win.”

BARTON defeated fellow strugglers Seaton by 57 runs to move out of the A Division bottom two.

It’s congested in the bottom half of the table with just seven points between four clubs – Abbotskerswell, Barton, Kilmington and Thoverton – all vying to avoid going down with doomed Seaton.

Adam Parker, the Barton captain, hopes the win over Seaton will be the jump start the side needs to start climbing the table.

“It was good to get back on track and now we need to string together some results and start to pull away from the bottom,” said Parker.

“There are important games coming up (Plympton (2nd) and Torquay (4th) on the next two Saturdays) so we need good availability and some strong performances.”

Steve Lewis hit top form with the bat for Barton with a lengthy 79 off 142 balls to get them to 203 for nine. Early wickets for Ben Morgan (3-14) had Barton vexed before Lewis and Greg Shelton got together.

Shelton got his head down to make 43 off 55 balls during a decisive stand of 106 for the seventh wicket.

Seaton started promisingly – they were 75 for one thanks largely to Damian Baxter (38) and Matt Hewer (23) – but wickets tumbled once Morgan Harford (5-29) came into the Barton attack.

It was a different story at 94 for six and only a question of time  before Barton finished Seaton off.

Steve Pritchard (23) detained Barton longer than they expected. Once he was out of the way Seaton faded to 146 all out.

Hewer, the Seaton vice-captain, said there were times when the team were on top but could not press home their advantage. 

“We won the toss and elected to field, which was a great decision as the wicket was pretty poor for the first 20 overs,” said Hewer.

“We had them about 80 for six and we had great hopes. However Steve Lewis played a fantastic knock for Barton.

“The wicket was always tricky but got easier as the game went on, however we let them get to many runs.

“It all looked good when we were 66 for none. Then our regular frailties in the middle order came back to haunt us. At some point this season the middle order will come together for us.”