TAVISTOCK returned from North Devon with just five points to show for their efforts after going down by seven wickets at Instow.

Having lost the toss again, Tavistock were asked to bat and immediately lost Andrew Gauler for nought to a catch behind the wicket.

That brought together Dave Manning and Andy Kaitiff who were watchful in the early stages of their stand.

They were eventually both bowled by 14-year-old Leon Loveridge, who looked a good prospect with his off-spin. He bowled with a good deal of flight and not inconsiderable turn and defeated Kaitiff and Manning as they advanced down the track to accelerate the scoring.

Manning made 66 from 108 balls in an extraordinary innings, although he hit 11 fours he was also dropped four times and survived the ball hitting the stumps from Martin Gears' bowling without removing the bails.

With Kaitiff scoring 25 from 83 balls their stand was worth 86, but had taken 30 overs.

When skipper Steve Luffman arrived at the crease he immediately pressed the accelerator and alongside Dave Watson added 60 for the fifth wicket in 33 minutes.

Luffman was particularly severe on young Loveridge, eventually hitting him for two sixes and a four in one over. He was finally dismissed by Lee Hart for a sparkling 58 from 47 balls, including seven fours and the two sixes, one of which landed on the beach.

Hart and Nigel Gittings bowled tightly at the death to finish with 4-43 and 2-18 respectively, as Tavistock ended on 192-8.

On a good batting wicket and with a quick outfield it looked a small target and an early breakthrough was required. North Devon had other ideas and openers Rob Gear and Robert Ford made steady progress.

Ford was first to go, bowled by Andy Tremellen with a perfect Yorker, but it was already the twelfth over and 40 runs were on the board.

When Andy Kaitiff removed Gear for 30 there looked to be half a chance for Tavistock.

The third wicket stand between Martin Gear and Robert Ayre proved to be decisive as they added 115 and broke the back of the run chase.

They ran well and both punished the occasional bad ball severely and exposed some limitations in Tavistock's ground fielding.

Kaitiff bowled well with his occasional offspinners bringing a return of 15 overs, 5 maidens, 1 for 38, and Olly Hicks showed considerable potential in his five overs, turning the ball sharply on occasions.

If Tshepo Legodi had had more luck in the early stages, when he beat the bat repeatedly and had a catch dropped, things might have been different but with Ayre finishing on 79 not out and Gear eventually out for 46 North Devon ran out comfortable winners with three overs to spare.

Tavistock resume their campaign at Kelly College on Saturday against Seaton.