TORQUAY are down to sixth in the Premier Division table after slipping to a six-wicket defeat at North Devon.

Seven days earlier the Seasiders were knocked off top spot when they lost at home to Plymouth and Exeter shot past them into poll position.

Exeter’s reign at the top didn’t last long as they went down by three wickets at Cornwood.

The new leaders are North Devon, but not by much as Exeter are only a point behind and Bovey Tracey trail them by three points in third.

Torquay were pinned down early by North Devon seamerss Josh King (2-33) and Matt Westaway (2-30), and found spinner Stefan James (0-33 off 10) no easier to get away.

Mitch Pugh (25) had the only score of note in a running total of 49 for three.

Sach Galhenage (42) and George Allen (50) hoisted 75 for the fourth wicket, but it took them nearly 20 overs to do it.

Allen and Joe Thompson (15) added another 28 before Jack Hockin spun out Allen.

Three wickets went for three runs added as Hockin (2-32) and left-armer Dan Bowser (2-40) prospered.

Tail-enders Nick Watkin (22no) and debutant Sam Carpenter (14) helped add 45 for in the last six overs to get 200 on the board.

North Devon made a 42-run start through Bowser (21) and Tom Ansell (20), only for Jack Richardson (2-28) to knock them both over in a total of 55 for two.

Max Curtis (79no) and Kyle Verreyenne  (30) knocked up 65 to leave 81 to win in 28 overs.

Although Verreyenne and Barney Huxtable were spun out four runs apart by Galhenage (2-30), Curtis was still there and with Ben Mason (25no) for company knocked off the rest of the runs without mishap.

Torquay skipper Justin Yau tried eight bowlers looking for breakthroughs without much success – including teenage spinner Carpenter on his debut.

Barney Huxtable, the North Devon captain, said: “It was a fantastic result for us.

“There are loads of positives to take and also a few areas we can improve.

“Jack Hockin, who broke into the side last week and kept his place, really impressed again, bowling very well at the end of the innings.

“Steff James our slow left-armer also bowled with great control allowing us to set fields to restrict Torquay.

"Max Curtis batted with fantastic maturity seeing us through. It was great to see him get some runs and show his class with the bat.

“There were still wickets thrown away at vital times and we need to learn to value our wicket more if we want to seriously compete this season.

“Torquay showed amazing sportsmanship and battled to the very end.

“They have a few young players who are going to be good Premier cricketers in the next year or so.”

Yau wasn’t too disturbed by the defeat against Plymouth, but this one did rattle him a bit.

“It was a really poor performance,” said Yau.

“North Devon were excellent but we didn't help ourselves and were always behind the eight-ball the way we batted.

“Although we did well to reach 200 in the end, it was always a good 70 runs short.”

Yau said Carpenter and Allen, who joined the club during the close season, were bright spots to focus on.

“Sam Carpenter was a huge positive - bowling and batting really well for a young lad.

“It was also great to see George Allen score his first 50 for the club and he looks like he's going to score plenty this year.”