Devon Cricket Board - Cornwood one win from promotion

Cornwood one win from promotion

Promotion-chasing Cornwood, who face Bradninch tomorrow. Back (left to right): Graham Baskerville (chairman), Duncan Boase (team manager), Ben Warren, Matt Butterworth, Jackson Thompson, Chris Parker, Elliott Staddon, Matt Skeemer, Lynne Whitfield (scorer), Nick Goodliffe (chair of selectors). Front: Craig James, Craig Harris, Jason Hall (captain), Mark Horwell, Adam Goodliffe

CORNWOOD will clinch promotion back to the Premier Division at the first attempt if they win at Bradninch tomorrow.
Beating Tavistock by 165 runs left Cornwood needing 14 points from their final two games to be sure of promotion.
Third-placed Budleigh can only catch Cornwood if they keep winning and the Corns lose to Bradninch and leaders Brixham on the last day.
A win over Bradninch tomorrow will settle it, irrespective of what Budleigh do.
“All the lads know they must keep fighting for all points available over the closing games of the season,” said Hall.
“Bradninch are one if the strongest teams in the division with some very good and dangerous players as proved over recent weeks.
“Therefore we all need to be ready for the challenge.
“It is another huge game in the course of the season and once again will be hoping all the lads can continue on the standards they have set in recent weeks.”
Hall described the win over Tavistock as ‘outstanding’ as well as ‘pleasing’.
He said: It was a pleasing result especially with Budleigh and Brixham both picking large point hauls.”
Cornwood pro Jackson Thompson returns after a weekend off to play against his former club.
Marc Roca and James Horgan stay in having been promoted from the 2^nd XI to face Tavistock.
Craig Harris is not available.

FORMER Devon bowler Robbie Newman is back for Budleigh Salterton’s last two games as they chase the second promotion spot in the A Division.

Skipper Joel Murphy accepts third-placed Budleigh are outsiders for promotion because of the 27-point gap between them and Cornwood in second spot.

With 40 points to play for it’s not all over yet – especially as Cornwood play leaders Brixham on the final day of the season.

Murphy needs former club Bradninch to do Budleigh a favour by beating Cornwood this Saturday to take the promotion issue down to the last day.

If Cornwood beat Bradninch this Saturday, nothing Budleigh can do against Sandford or Lewdown in their last two games will be enough.

“Relying on someone else doing you a favour is not ideal, but that is the situation we are in,” said Murphy.

“We just have to keep winning so if Cornwood slip we can take advantage.

“Having Robbie back for the last two games is a boost for us as he is a match-winner and we need to win the matches.”

Budleigh kept their side of the bargain last Saturday by winning by six wickets at Bideford – Cephas Zhuwao hitting a rapid 95 not out.

Opener Josh Roach top scored for Bideford with 68 in a total of 180 all out.

Budleigh were 18 for two in the third over with Eliot Rice and Andy Procter both gonners to Heard (2-27).

Ben Phillips (40) and Zhuwao put on 89 in 15 overs and from then on there was only going to be one outcome.

Phillips and Harry Collison went at 107 and 124 respectively, but Ben Carter (24no) was there at the end with Zhuwao.

SANDFORD captain Jamie Palmer feels at top-four finish is possible for his side after their seven-wicket win over Barton.

“We are 12 points behind fourth place with two games left,” said Palmer.

“I will be looking for two victories to end the season on a positive note.”

Opener Charlie Fitzroy played the anchorman role as Sandford chased Barton’s 210 for nine.

Russ Discombe (21) and Fitzroy put on 89 for the first wicket. Prince Masvuare (52) and Fitzoy (66) added another 71 for the second wicket as the target was chipped away.

Ryan Glass (36no), partnered by Adrian Small (12no), saw Sandford home with more than five overs to spare.

BRADNINCH will be hoping to bounce back from their 83-run defeat by Lewdown when they face Cornwood.

Lewdown piled-up 246 for six around an unbeaten Johann Wessels century.

Paul Nott (3-44) and Charlie Walker (2-45) were the leading wicket takers while Ross Acton was tight and tidy with 10 overs for 23 runs.

Bradninch were all out for 163 – former Exeter paceman Billy Searle taking three for 25.

Charlie Walker top scored with 94 in 153 minutes for Bradninch, but lacked support.

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