DARTINGTON & Totnes’ fourth successive relegation was confirmed by a 159-run defeat at the hands of Paignton 3rd XI.

Another relegation has looked inevitable for D&T since the midway point of the season. There has only been one table in which they have not been on the bottom since week one, when champs-to-be Abbotskerswell defeated them by 69 runs.

Paignton, now clear of relegation danger after flirting with it briefly, made 279 for six around a rapid century from Kevin Francis. He made 137 of 80 balls with 110 of his runs coming in boundaries.

Francis shared a stand of 66 for the fourth wicket with Mark Bennett (13), and 80 for the fifth with Harry Knight (20). Opener Andy Singh made 43 of the first 59 in the book.

Mick Rusling’s figures of one for 39 from nine overs stood out in the D&T side of the scorebook.

Other than a partnership worth 48 between Justin Osborne (37) and Stuart Featham (16), topped-up by Liam Cotton (21), there was little progress made by the D&T batters.

From 97 for five when Osborne was removed, they declined to 120 all out.

Ethan Hancock, Callum Knight and Jon Roberts all too two D&T wickets each.