ASHBURTON skipper Lloyd White is tipping Paignton 2nd XI to run away with the C West title this season following his side’s five-wicket defeat at Queen’s Park.

George Yabsley hit a top score of 46 for the Ashes in an all-out total of 162. Best of the rest was Chris Yeo with 23.

Paignton seamer Steve George (3-24) pinned Ashes down for nine overs and there were two wickets each for Jack Harman and Arthur Ray.

Mark Orchard (36) and Connor Bryan (74no) – both former 1st XI captains – put on 101 for the second wicket as Paignton went off in hot pursuit.

Bryan was still there at the end when the winning post was passed with more than 12 overs to go.

Marcus West and Matt Coon were the Ashes bowlers Paignton found hardest to score off.

White said with seven players out due to injuries, it was always going to be a tough day in the office.

“We are being tested with our squad depth, but had we held Connor early, things just might have been different … who knows?” said White.

“Paignton are the strongest side we've faced this summer and with the side they had out they should walk the league at a canter.”

Despite this vote of confidence from the Ashburton skipper, Ivybridge are actually the team leading the way in that division.

The pair have both had one game abandoned alongside their four wins, the points difference being the decisive factor and Ivy are two ahead of Paignton’s 90.

At the other end of the table, there was a first win of the season for Brixham as they overcame fellow strugglers Yelverton Bohemians, winning by eight wickets.

Mike Lemmings (56) and Joe Trimmer (26) got Yelverton up to 93 for one, but a dramatic collapse to 100 for five squandered what had been a promising position. Matt Parsons (4-37) was largely responsible for the carnage.

Phil Mutlow (22) and Ed Sorensen (18) fended off complete collapse. Once they were separated it was downhill in a hurry to 159 all out. G R Silva (2-14) helped with the mopping-up operation.

Brixham, winless prior to the latest round of fixtures, lost wickets at 69 and 157 on the way to victory.

Richard Ward (25) was first to go, followed by Mike Barron (64) with just three needed to win.

Skipper Tom Hopper reached 43 not out when he dispatched the winning runs.

This result leaves Sandford propping up the table, and they are the only team in this league yet to taste victory this season.

Only six points separate the bottom three though with Brixham and Yelverton both on 41, showing just how tight it is at both ends.