BRADNINCH clawed their way out of the bottom two in the Premier Division with a four-wicket win in a low-scoring affair against Bovey Tracey on Saturday.

Ross Acton took four wickets for 40 runs and there were two each for Eliot Acton and Joel Murphy as Bovey were bowled out for 121 in the 36th of their 50 overs.

Any thoughts of that being the hard bit out of the way were soon put aside as Bradninch dipped from 71 for two to 89 for five and then 93 for six in reply.

But man-of-the-match Ross Acton stayed cool under pressure as chirpy Bovey sensed a way back into the game. Acton made 21 not out and saw the chase through with Joe Webb (8no) for company.

A Bradninch win means it is almost all change at the bottom of the table, although Sandford remain the basement side after drawing with North Devon.

Plymouth's drawn game with Budeigh Salterton drops them into the second relegation slot. Just a point ahead are Exeter, who played poorly against Torquay and paid the penalty with a seven-wicket defeat.

Bradninch, who play Plymouth this Saturday, are four points and a place higher than Exeter, while Torquay are a further point in front. With only 10 points between the bottom five clubs, there are plenty of nail-biters ahead.

Bovey hadn't lost all season before going to Bradninch — the team who came up with them from the A Division for the current campaign.

Bradninch bowled straight — keeper Billy Wakeley pouched five catches behind the stumps — and their close catching was out of the top drawer.

Dan Hardy picked off a couple in the gully, significantly Somerset's Steffan Jones followed by Richard Longstreet. The latter had come in at 60 for six after top scorer Ben Ayres (26) got out to Joel Murphy and was doing a sound job marshalling the tail.

Bradninch appeared to be cruising at 41 without loss, but then lost Gary Newall and Hardy (31) one after the other to Chris Bradley. Hardy (31) was caught at slip by Longstreet after keeper Ayres palmed the ball to him.

Pete Bradley then took three in a row as the jitters set in. Tim Piper was bowled, Richard Foan caught at slip and Jack Horton went lbw.

Jones then had Gary Chappell caught and at 93 for six it was game on again.

Acton decided the best form of defence was attack and walloped 21 not out from 20 balls.