Devon Cricket Board - Heathcoat being sucked into relegation struggle warns Lochead

Heathcoat being sucked into relegation struggle warns Lochead

HEATHCOAT could be sucked into the Premier Division relegation mire if they carry on losing.
Bovey Tracey beat Heathcoat by three wickets in a low-scoring affair to condemn the men from Knightshayes to a third successive defeat.
Brad Barnes made a top score of 80 for Heathcoat, who were bowled out for 149 in the 39th over.
Heathcoat may be sixth in the table, but mathematically they are only 21 points clear of Paignton in the second relegation place.
Three of Heathcoat’s last four games are against teams in the relegation scrap – Paignton, Exeter and Plymouth – and the other is fading title hopefuls Sidmouth this Saturday.
It could easily become an anxious final month of the season for Heathcoat, a point not lost on vice-captain Toby Lochead.
“We have been dragged back into a relegation battle, which simply isn't good enough,” said Lochead.
“The batsmen are letting us down, except Brad who yet again showed his class.
“It's these last four games when the rest of us need to show some fight and passion for the club and support Brad because he is doing it on his own.
“Bovey are a good side but their bowling attack isn't to be feared, but they bowled well on a poor wicket.
“Our 149 was never going to be enough, and although we took seven wickets, it's the batsman who let us down again.
“We have nothing to lose against Sidmouth - and the last three games against teams below us will show how much we want to be in this division by our performances in those games.”
Openers Toby Lochead and Dylan Penberthy went early, with brought Jack Dart in at 23 for two to join Barnes.
A third wicket stand of 47 between Dart and Barnes was the best Heathcoat could muster.
Dart made 10. No one else contributed a double-figure score to Barnes’ effort of 80.
Barnes was ninth out at 149, the third of four victims for Bovey’s Zimbabwean paceman Malcolm Lake.
Lake opened up for Bovey and contributed 30 as they got to 48 for two.
Jordan Willoughby made 36 and steered Bovey to 97 for four.
There were two wickets for Paul Elliot and Barnes as Heathcoat made occasional inroads.
Andy Fairbairn’s 32 kept the target coming down and Lewis Hammett kept cool during a mini-collapse from 136 for four to 138 for seven to see Bovey home with an unbeaten 20.
Peter Bradley, the Bovey captain, said Hammett’s knock was more significant than it looked.
“We lost a few, silly wickets cheaply at the end, but Lewis finished off well for us,” said Bradley.

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