Devon Cricket Board - B Division: Plymstock need to stop wobbling

B Division: Plymstock need to stop wobbling

B DIVISION

PLYMSTOCK – away to Dartington & Totnes – will be looking to get back on track after a wobbly spell which has seen their lead at the top cut to 10 points.

A loss last week to chagford dented the chances of plymstok wrapping up promotion early and now it looks as though the league chase will go to the wire with South Devon and Chudleigh in hot pursuit.

“The team didn't play well as a whole last week,” said vice-captain George Banicott.

“Only a couple of players stood up with individual performances. Dave Orchard and Rozza Coltham were the only players with scores of note in a total of144 all out.

“When it came to bowling Jack Thomas bowled out of his skin, but luck was not with him."

Wicket keeper Teddy Richards has broken a finger playing mid week cricket so former 1st team skipper and Ian Whalley comes in to replace him.

THORVERTON can go a long way towards staving off the threat of relegation by beating visiting Chagford.

Thors are 19 points ahead of Chagford, who are the side in the second relegation place ahead of bottom side Clyst St George.

With 80 points to play for there is some way to go yet before the Thors are safe.

“We know we will need to fight for every point,” said skipper Ally Fury,

“Chagford are on the back of a win over table-topping Plymstock so a testing afternoon should be in store.

“At this stage of the season it is important we don't worry about them, and concentrate on our own game.

“We are only 19 points above the drop but have the players to pull ourselves away from the bottom and will look to start against Chagford.”

Batter James Hope is available and comes in to replace James Maxwell.

Nick Barton - last season’s players of the year and leading wicket taker - return for only his second game this year after suffering a serious facial injury during an early season game against Plymstock.

Second-placed Chudleigh have a few gaps to fill for the trek to Tavistock.

Keeper Ed Forward is unable to travel, seamer Ben Holmes is on holiday and opener Lance Ames has injury problems.

Mark Solway will keep wicket, which solves one problem, the filling the other two gaps continues to vex skipper Jon Martin.

“Hopefully, Lance will be fit and that will just leave getting some new-ball overs out of someone, which may be Ed Forman, who has done it before,” said Martin.

South Devon are looking for a win to get back on track as the promotion race comes to the boil.

Chudleigh are level with South Devon in second spot with Plymstock 10 points on at the top.

Bottom side Clyst St George visit Marsh Road tomorrow which, on paper, is a home banker. South Devon skipper David Knowles isn’t taking anything for granted though.

“Clyst won’t give us any freebies if their recent results are anything to go by,” said Knowles.

“Their batting is strong and if we want to beat them we will have to do something which we haven’t done for a while, which is play for two innings in the same match.

“Until we can bat and bowl well on the same day we are going to lose games we should win, such as Chudleigh last week.”

Team news from Marsh Road is that spinner Matt Coult returns. However, there are fitness doubts over batter Nick Hulse (shoulder).

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