Kandampully (pictured) upbeat despite second successive relegation | 'We've got a young side who will get better and bounce back next year' - speaking after the win over Bovey Tracey

PLYMPTON skipper Harry Kandampully is confident better times are just around the corner for his relegated side after they defeated Bovey Tracey by 31 runs.

Plympton have only won five games all season – and two of those have been against mid-table Bovey Tracey.

Beating Bovey Tracey was not enough to spare Plympton from a second successive relegation as Torquay & Kingskerswell just about did enough in their defeat at Thorverton to ensure they won’t be caught.

Although Kandampully was the star turn with the bat, he made 64 in Plympton’s total of 209 for eight, he said it was the youngsters in the side that give him encouragement for the future.

“Billy Pitman batted very well and his innings probably won us the game,” said Kandampully.

“The bowling and fielding was much improved from last week and Elliot Hamilton and Callum Williams in particular bowled well.

“We've got a young side who will get better and bounce back next year.”

Plympton, thrashed Bovey by 10 wickets first time around. Losing twice to a relegated side is not a good look.

Seb Ansley, the Bovey captain, believed the 31-run defeat by Plympton summed-up the first team’s season.

Said Ansley: “Unfortunately a bit of a story of our season is that consistency has been lacking.

“We had Plympton 130 for six and couldn't finish the job. When we batted there were too many silly dismissals.

“We move on to Cullompton next and will try to finish the season on a high.”

Losing Devon run getter Hamilton to the first ball of the game was not the start Plympton wanted, but they rebuilt through Finn Torley (31) and Kandampully, who put on 84.

Plympton went into wobble mode briefly when they lost four wickets getting from 120 for two to 130 for six. Sam Harvey (3-36) was largely responsible.

Pitman (43) and Williams (28) struck-up a seventh-wicket partnership worth 73 that lasted until the penultimate over.

Bovey’s reply was a stop-start affair that got to 101 for three, deteriorated to 134 for seven and expired on 168 with more than 13 overs to go.

Albie Bradley, one of Bovey’s own rising stars, was joint top scorer on 26. Tail-ender Ollie Clifford-Bourne whacked 26 not out from 15 balls at the end.

Williams had two of the first three wickets to fall. Hamilton (4-31) accounted for the majority of the rest.

For Plympton it was a memorable win, but from Kandampully’s viewpoint there were no ‘what-iffs’ about season outcome.

“It was a good result against a strong Bovey side,” said Kandampully.

“I tasked the lads with getting us a win and not worrying about other results and they delivered. It wasn't to be for us.

“We've not been good enough this season with the bat. Yesterday was the first time we've batted 50 overs – and Bovey have probably been on the end of the only times we have had our full side out.”