Devon Cricket Board - Bideford skipper calm despite poor start

Bideford skipper calm despite poor start

BIDEFORD skipper James Ford isn’t about to press the panic button despite a losing start to the season.
The A Division new boys have yet to win a game and are 22 points adrift of safety at the bottom of the table going into tomorrow’s game with Tavistock at Westward Ho!.
Bideford arrived in the A Division on the back of two successive promotions and are finding the second one harder to cope with.
“So far we have played Cornwood, Barton and Hathereigh – all teams who have been in the Premier Division not that long ago or are established A Division teams,” said Ford.
“You soon discover there are very few weak areas in the A Division.
“Against B Division bowling attack you knew if you saw off the first two or three bowlers, the rest wouldn’t be that great.
“So far that hasn’t happened. Our next two games are Tavistock (second bottom) and Lewdown (four off the bottom) and we need to get some results.”
Bideford have been handicapped by problems with their bowling attack as they have been operating without three of last season’s leading wicket takers.
Josh King (31wkts) has left for North Devon, Fred King (15) is out for eight weeks due to injury and Paul Heard (23) has yet to bowl a ball, although King says he is not that far away from a comeback.
It wouldn’t be so bad if Bideford were scoring runs, but they have been all out for 89, 91 and 91 again.
“It doesn’t help that I am not getting any runs, and neither is Josh Roach,” said Ford.
“We have been 10 for two too often and that puts pressure on the middle order, which is a bit inexperienced.
“I might move myself down the order a bit to stiffen things up.
“Hopefully Josh will find some form soon. He made 120 in a friendly for Instow the other day. Fingers crossed.”
Ford said he the last thing he wanted was for pressure to get to the side, which would only make things worse.
“No one would want to go down, but if that’s the worst thing that happens we will still be a better side for a season in the A Division,” said Ford.
TAVISTOCK, boosted by their win over Hatherleigh, are away to bottom side Bideford.
Batter Ian Gray and seamer James McGahey are back in this week, but Jamie Stephens is unavailable.
“Hopefully after last week we can carry on playing positive cricket and grab some results,” said skipper Shaun Daymond.

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