Bovey Tracey CC in serious threat of relegation

The alarm bells are well and truly ringing for Bovey Tracey's 1st XI after another painful weekend which saw them suffer a seventh successive Devon League Premier Division defeat and lose in double-quick time in the area finals of the National Vitality Club T20 tournament.

It's the league which is the biggest worry for Bovey, who are now deep n relegation trouble after going down to bottom of the table North Devon at the Recreation Ground last Saturday.

It's a far cry from the days at the start of the season, when they won four of their first five matches.

Since they won at North Devon on June 3, Bovey have lost seven of eight games and had the other rained off.

North Devon had been bowled out for 27 by champions Bradninch & Kentisbeare the previous weekend, so Saturday's match was seen as a must-win occasion.

Bovey, still without their Australian fast bowler Alex Bevilaqua because of visa problems, were bowled out for 187 in the 50th over (Sam Taylor 41).

The visitors squeezed home by two wickets with seven balls to spare.

Fellow strugglers Plympton also pulled off a surprise win over Tiverton Heathcoat, on a day of high winds and rain showers which saw Sandford take a big step towards the Premier title with a four-wicket win over close rivals Bradninch.

With four games to go, the situation at the bottom now reads: North Devon 116pts, Plympton 137, Bovey 138, Paignton 142.

Bovey travel to Sidmouth (4th) this Saturday, and their last four matches also include home games against mid-table Heathcoat and Cornwood (2nd) and a final-day trip to Exmouth.

Cup cricket has proved a bonus for Bovey this season, who won the Wombat Devon T20 Finals at Exmouth recently.

But the next step proved one too far on Sunday.

They travelled to the Area Finals at Bridgwater, where their 103-8 was no problem for Bristol, who won by nine wickets inside nine overs.