- South Dartmoor back to winning ways in cups
- Tom Allin tournament raised more than £5,000 for air ambulance
- Taverners kit bag delivered to Sri Lankan youngsters
- Devon trying to contact the class of 56
- Paceman Tshepo running in Virgin London Marathon
- Five Devon women in Western Storm squad for Kia Super League
- Registration night for all ages at Topsham on Monday
- Lots pouring in for auction at Allin Memorial tournament
- Thames Valley Gentlemen Cricket Club
- Bradninch add Argentinian flavour to Devon League
- Ipplepen youth registration night on Friday
- Final call for Groundsmans first seminar this year
- Devon League official tackling London Marathon for charity
- Bovey on familiar territory in Aaron Printers Cup
- Brockman Cup - Cup Kings lie in wait for holders
- Shepherd Trust helps Kingsbridge build for sustainable future
- DCL - Umpire Appointments 2016 (May 7th - July 2nd)
- Long standing records beaten
- North Devon see off Paignton chase
NO backsliding is the pre-season message from Cricketfield Road as Barton prepare for their first season back in the A Division.
Barton got out of the B Division at the first attempt – and have no desire to tread that route again.
Skipper Adam Parker is crystal clear what this season’s priority is.
“We have to consolidate our A Division status and keep bringing our young players on,” said Parker.
“A couple of new players have joined us – one great prospect just walked through the door pre-season and said he wanted to play – and the youth corps looked stronger.
“Looking around on training nights, we have a good mix of players this season.
“I can see it being a good year to bring players on.”
Stephen Lewis, who left for Babbacombe last year, has returned to Barton having averaged more than 100 in league cricket. Dave Palmer, who went with him, is also back.
Quickish bowler Chris Needham has signed on – he was with Cockington – and will play regularly in part two of the season.
The player Parker is excited about is Chris Penner, an early-order batsman with a pedigree which includes Oxfordshire U17s, the Royal Navy XI and Horspath in the Cherwell Thames Valley League.
“He has moved to Shiphay and literally walked into the club – not the sort of good fortune we get very often,” said Parker.
Overseas assistance comes from Hussain Badat, a forceful opening batsman from South Africa who can also bowl seamers mid-innings.
He is good enough to have attracted the attention at home of the KZN Dolphins – and showed why with a rapid 90 for Barton against Midlezoy in a pre-season friendly.
Last season he played for Unsworth in the Central Lancashire League. Playing as an amateur, he scored nearly 600 runs at an average of 27.09.