Devon Cricket Board - B Division - Tavvy out to prove first win no fluke

B Division - Tavvy out to prove first win no fluke

THE big match in the B Division is at the Ring where Tavistock take on leaders Lewdown.

Only one team has defeated Lewdown all season – and that is their arch rivals from Tavvy.

Barring mishaps of biblical proportions, Lewdown are nailed on for one of the two promotion places as they are 33 points clear of third-placed Ivybridge already.

Lewdown are fresh from beating Alphington in a game that featured a whirlwind double-ton from Marco Marais.

Tavistock overcame lowly South Devon after a struggle to stay fourth in the table, 41 points behind the leaders but, more significantly, 26 behind second-placed Chudlegh.

Tavvy aren’t going to catch Lewdown, but they can overhaul Chudleigh, whom they have to play in three weeks time.

Not surprisingly, Lewdown captain Harry Geering is after revenge and opposite numbe Shaun Daymond wants to prove the win first time round was no fluke!

“We are going to be wanting revenge against them this time,” said Geering.

“We have a lot of players in good form and want to keep our run going, especially as we have Chudleigh next week.

“Tavistock need to finish off the season well to try and gain promotion after a few surprising defeats. Wnow we will have to be at our best to get the win.”

Daymond is looking forward to a ‘great game’ against a good side.

“We respect Lewdown and their position speaks for itself, but we don't fear them,” said Daymond.

“We know what we're capable of and if we play to our strengths I think we can take the points.”

Barnstaple, at home to Thorverton, make one change to the side which gave Stoke Gabriel a scare last time out. Sam Lathwell is available and replaces Mark Metters.

Alphington captain Stuart Shaw won’t be dwelling on last Saturday’s mauling by Lewdown long ahead of the game against Shobrooke Park.

Shaw was irritated by the way his batters performed, more than anything else.

The Alphas are a point clear of the drop zone and need a win to stay ahead of Thoverton.

“Putting last week behind us the players are still very much upbeat and we all know you do not come across a batsman like Marco every week,” said Shaw.

“Saying that we should have still scored a lot more runs and kept wickets in hand but that’s gone now.”

Shobrooke surprised one or two people last time out by defeating promotion hopefuls Ivybridge. Shaw wasn’t one of them.

“If you take out Chudleigh and Lewdown, who I feel will go up this season, I would say most of the teams are evenly matched,” said Shaw.

“Shbrooke’s result last week did not surprise me at all it shows how tight this division is,

“I am sure my players will be looking forward to the game and I am hoping we will get a positive result.”

Paul James and Ben Ireson return from two and three weeks off, which will add depth to the side.

Ivybridge will be looking to bounce back from that defeat by Shobrooke when they entertain Stoke Gabriel in the South Hams derby.

“I am looking for a good response after last week's defeat,” said skipper Gareth Andrews.

“Hopefully, we can start another run, but I expecting a tough game as always against Stoke.”

Seamer Jimmy Bullock not available for the rest of the season due to his accountancy exams and Paul Veale drops into the 2nd XI.

Batter Charlie Horwood is fit again so comes straight back in and Tim Lancaster steps back up after 125 not for the 2nd XI last Saturday.

Chudleigh captain Jon Martin is just a little bit wary of struggling South Devon ahead of the derby clash at Kate Brook.

On paper it’s a no-brainer as Chudleigh are second in the table and South Devon are bottom without a win in 31 games across three seasons.

The derby factor is an issue, as is the danger of thinking ahead to next week’s clash with Lewdown.

So it is one game at a time for Martin, with good reason.

“South Devon are a potential banana skin and we are not looking past them to next week,” said Martin..

“With small gaps opening up between the top four, one bad or good result can change the look of the league.

“We will being looking for maximum points to keep our noses in the hunt.”

Team news is that Matt Heather and Mark Solway are both out on holiday and Ben Tuckett is also out.

Coming in is Shaun Newland and also returning are two former captains in Matt Hookway and Derek Perry.

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