PLYMOUTH skipper Sam Stein is going to be of action for up to a month after discovering he has a spiral fracture in his right hand.

Stein didn’t’play in the 75-run defeat by Bovey Tracey on Saturday after being told to give it a miss by doctors.

Having missed much of last season due to injury, the last thing the Plymouth seamer wants is another spell in the sidelines.

“My bad hamstring cost me most of last season, so to miss another month is absolutely gutting,” said Stein.

“I did it against Torquay sliding on the ground to stop a ball - and at the time thought nothing much of it.

“On Friday I went to see the doctor, had an x-ray and was told I wouldn’t be playing for a while.

“I am due to go into Derriford Hospital this week to have it sorted. It is just one break and I hope to be back in a month.”

Scotland international Hamish Gardiner is leading the side in Stein’s absence – and is tenure didn’t start well.

Bovey Tracey made 238 for six in their 50 overs – Matt Golding top scoring on 80 – then Toby Codd took five for 19 as Plymouth were bowled out for 163 in reply.

Bovey Tracey found Plymouth’s veteran left-armer Dave Burke had work at first and in a running total of 40 for three he had all three.

In-form Golding and Aussie Rob Honeybul turned things round for Bovey with a stand of 78 for the fourth wicket.

Honeybul went to Jack Hale (2-59) but Golding just kept going all the way to 80 off 130 balls in the anchorman role.

Along the way for Golding were stands of 32 with Lewis Hammett and 39 with Codd.

It didn’t make any difference to Plymouth when they got Golding out with four overs to go as Codd (30no) and Andy Lake racked up 49 in a hurry.

Lale, the younger brother of opener Malcolm Lake, made 35 not off 13 balls with three sixes and two fours.

Burke (3-33) was easily the pick of the Plymouth bowlers, although Joe Hagan-Burt’s four overs for 11 runs and Henry Bennett’s none for 36 off 10 were economical if not productive.

Plymouth laboured to 78 for four in reply with a succession of batsmen – James Toms (19), Andy Atkinson (26) and Gardiner (10) – getting settled then getting out.

Hal Kerton (23) and Jake Luffman (37) did make a 29-run dent in the deficit, but the overs were running out,

Once Luffman was seventh out at 145 it was downhill all the way for Plymouth.

Codd took the last four wickets to add to the scalp of Atkinson as Plymouth were hustled out with more than six overs to go.

Said Stein: “The boys bowled really well but Bovey got away just at the end of the innings.

We had a rough caught-behind decision against Hamish, which didn't help, but Vovey bowled tightly in the middle with enough turn on show.

“There were a few lessons to be learned but a lot to take away from the game.

“A few results went our way so the table is still very tight.”

Plymouth are seventh in the table of ten, but are only 14 points beind leaders North Devon, who beat Torquay on Saturday to oust Exeter from top spot.

Sam Hickinbottom, the Bovey captain, said Golding and Honeybul created the platform for Bovey to go on and win the match.

“The great partnership between them meant we could build an innings, leaving Hammett, Codd and Andrew Lake to play good cameos to get us to 230,” said Hickinbottom.

“Lake in particular hit the ball very cleanlt and gave us the momentum we needed.

“Our fielding performance was strong all-round. We picked up wickets regularly and when we weren't taking wickets we bowled tightly.

“Codd was excellent and deserved his five-wicket haul.”