Devon Cricket Board - Randerson on way to Heathcoat as Lochead departs

Randerson on way to Heathcoat as Lochead departs

HEATHCOAT have gained one player and lost another as the countdown to the new season gets under way.

Gone from Knightshayes for the season ahead is early order batsman Toby Lochead.

Lochead had three seasons with Heathcoat and was vice-captain to Sam Smith last term.

His club form in 2014 earned a Devon Lions call up at the start of last season, but despite making a half-century against the University of Exeter he was overlooked after that.

Lochead joined Heathcoat from Sandford and it is to Creedy Park, where Ryan Glass is the new captain, that he has returned.

“I grew up at Sandford and feel now is the right time to try and help them get back where they belong in the Premier Division,” said Lochead.

“I am good mates with Ryan and when he rang me I knew it was the right time.

“Sandford are a young side with lots of potential, and we have now signed a very good overseas.

“The A Division looks very tough this year, but if we play to our potential there is no reason why we can't be up the top end at the end of the season.

“I wish Heathcoat the best this year and hope to be playing against them next year after we get promoted.”

Back on board at Knightshayes is keeper-batsman Peter Randerson, who left the club at the end of the 2011 season to play for Sidmouth.

Randerson has also been part of the Lions set up and last season played for Devon in the Unicorns T20 semi-final against Cheshire at Banbury.

The talented all-round sportsman – he plays Championship hockey for Ashmoor – was a consistent run scorer for Heathcoat, scoring 500 runs in his last season with Heathcoat.

Last season with Sidmouth he averaged 24.61 from 320 runs scored. He will almost certainly take over keeping duties from Sam Smith for the season ahead.

SANDFORD have signed Aussie batsman Matt Hopkins as their overseas player for the season ahead.

Hopkins, who is 25, is currently playing for Penrith in the Sydney first-grade competition.

He bats left handed an either opens up or goes in at three or four. In more than 170 games in Sydney grades since 2006 he has accumulated nearly 5,000 runs.

Hopkins is averaging nearly 40 this season, playing in the same side as Worcesterhshire’s Tom Kohler-Cadmore.

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