Bovey Tracey skipper Ansley (pictured) outlines what must change to turn season around | 'We have to be ruthless when we get down to the last three or four batsmen as not doing that that has been costly'

BOVEY Tracey skipper Seb Ansley has spelled out what his side must do to avoid being dragged into a relegation fight.

North Devon defeated Bovey by three-wickets last time out (click here for match report) to send Ansley’s men into the Tolchards DCL A Division bottom two. Remain there and they go down.

Losing means Bovey have been bypassed by Kilmington, who moved out of the bottom two with an edgy 10-run win over Bridestowe & Belstone.

It isn’t the first time this season Bovey have had opposition on the rack and failed to finish them off. Ansley hopes it will be the last.

“We have to be ruthless when we get down to the last three or four batsmen as not doing that that has been costly in a number of games,” said Ansley. “And, simply put, our top five or six need to score more runs so we set some totals.”

Weighing-up the afternoon’s events at Instow, Ansley said it was an improvement on the losing display against Ivybridge seven days earlier.

”Overall, a more positive performance to be a part of and the fight to push it all the way was heartening to see after last week,” said Ansley.

“It was a tough pitch to bat on with the ball moving about and their openers bowling well. But our target was to bat the 50 and we could build a score of some note from there. 

“The potential difference could have been a chance we missed late on and maybe a decision, but it was more the 33 extras we bowled in a low-scoring affair.”