Devon Cricket Board - A Division: Last round in scrap for second

THE A Division promotion race will rise to a thrilling crescendo tomorrow, with Exeter and Sandford both gunning to go up.

Sandford sit second in the table, a point up on Exeter in the squabble to finish runners-up behind champions Torquay.

Exeter appear to be slight favourites as they are away to bottom side Barton, who need a miracle to save themselves from the drop.

Sandford go to Brixham, who beat them earlier in the season and have been on the fringes of the promotion race ever since.

Exeter skipper Jon Tipper said only a win will do for his side if they want to go straight back up to the top division.

"We have had a great season in the A Division and feel we are ready for the Premier again," said Tipper.

"Players are showing an interest in joining us next season if we do go up and I am excited at the prospect of some of the players who have been talking to us coming to the club.

"We are not there yet though and have to focus on getting all 20 points off Barton. The fact they are in trouble will help us, not because we expect to win easily but because they have to play positively to try and beat us, otherwise they have had it.

"If Brixham can do us a favour and beat Sandford again, or stop them winning, that would be a great help. We can't rely on that though and have to back ourselves to win."

Sandford captain Matt Theedom knows a tough game lies ahead, but if his side are good enough they will go up.

"Brixham away is going to be a tough game," he said. "They are a good side who have done really well in their first season since promotion last year.

"They stuffed us earlier in the year, so we know what we are up against. However, we have played some really good cricket this year and will be doing everything we can to win the match."

Brixham are bringing in Rhys Dallow and Adam Edwards from the second team to see what they can do, although that isn’t a white-flag signal from the camp.

“It doesn't mean we'll be easying up though,” said skipper Mark Orchard.

“Sandford will be playing for every point available and so will we as we still want be as high as possible in the table.

“After our performance up at there place we have a lot to live up to, but we have shown we can do it and we'll do our best to do it again.

Theeds will be trying to lead his team to promotion and it will be up to us to stop him and beat them, just as we did at their place.”

Mathematically, Braunton are still in with a chance of promotion, but even if Sandford slip up against Brixham they need a massive favour from Barton.

Skipper Jon Baglow, whose side hostAlphington, is hoping for the best though – and failing that an act of God!

“This week we are hoping for torrential rain down on the Riviera as that is the only way we are going to have a chance.

“We have Alphington at home and just need to play our natural game and not worry about what could be happening around Torbay.

“In effect it is all reliant on the last game, but it is about what has happened over the course of the season.

“I think the four sides pushing for the second promotion spot are very evenly matched and shows the strength of the A Division this season.

“We have all beaten or had positive results against each other so good luck to all those involved.”

At the other end of the table, it's all or nothing for Alphington and Shobrooke Park, one of whom will be relegated.

Alphington, who have a three-point cushion over Shobrooke, are away to Braunton. The Mid Devon side are at home to Abbotskerswell.

Alphington captain Mark Porter knows nothing less than a win will do for his side, having had a look at Abbots and Braunton playing each other last Saturday when his own team's game against Brixham was rained off.

"When I arrived at Abbots they were 17 for seven and lost heavily," Porter said.

"Braunton looked a hungry side who will do us no favours, while Abbots look like they will struggle against Shobrooke. If we want to stay up we have to win, simple as that."

CORNWOOD will be bidding a fond farewell to Kevin Willcock and Duncan Boase when they play Premiership bound Torquay at Oak Park.

Boase is taking a step down and retiring from the first team, whilst Willcock is stopping cricket completely.

Corns’ skipper Craig Harris said the two stalwarts will be missed and praised them for their efforts.

“Both guys have been great contributors for the club over the years and are very well respected by all of the other players in the changing room,” said Harris.

“To have made this decision i know both would have taken it very seriously, and have played for so many seasons on end, its understandable when guys like these choose to take a step back

“Hopefully we can give Duncan and Kevin a good send off. We know Torquay will be coming down looking to keep their 100 per cengt record, but the best we can do at our home ground is get stuck in and enjoy it, and hopefull we will come out on top.”

Looking back over the season, which started with Pakistani pacer Aizaz Cheema terrorizing sides and had ended with him playing in a Test match against Zimbabwe, Harris said it has been ‘a challenge’.

He added: “I am sure there will be several people in all of our four teams who will breath a sigh of relief it’s over.

”But the realistic thing is that come the end of this game, as a unit we will sit down and have a talk about this season just gone, and look ahead to what can be done over the winter to give us a real edge come next season.”