- 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
BRADNINCH captain Tim Piper has a warning for any opposite number writing his side off this season – think again.
It’s not been a great close season at Bradninch with many more ins than outs.
A bit loss is that of former captain Gary Chappell – he bats and bowls – he has gone to Exmouth this year.
Opening bowler Dan Milligan has joined a team closer to home in Taunton, former player-coach Paul Tweddle has done the same thing and young all-rounder Matt Golding has left for Bovey Tracey.
Piper was sad to see all of them go, especially Golding who is close to getting in the full Devon side.
‘Matt would have batted three and bowled 10 overs every week for us, which I can’t see happening at Bovey Tracey with the team they have got,” said Piper.
Coming in are Jackson Thompson, a former Gloucestershire staffer who bats and bowls spin and was in the Unicorns side not that long ago.
The new overseas player at Kensham Park is Kiwi batter Matt Vercoe-Curtis, who is mainly a batter.
Dan Hardy and Joe Webb have said they are available regular this summer, which they weren’t last year.
And a couple of University of Exeter lads – Rhys Merriman and Tim Clews – may well feature in the early weeks of the season.
Chappell, Milligan and Golding took 60 wickets between them last year – and Tweddle (307) and Golding (255 were the leading run getters.
There are gaps to be filled, that’s for certain, but Piper has confidence in the squad he has if they can show some application.
“I imagine teams will expect us to struggle this year after losing a few key players,” said Piper.
“Those people and teams who think this, or feel we are an easy target, will be in for a shock.
“If we put the work in we can beat anyone on our day – and if we do we will be fine.
“Our batting needs to be a bit stronger and we have to put together better partnerships.
“Bowling wise we have a lot of options with Jackson and Dan Hardy as spinners and we have wicket takers rather than stock bowlers.”
Piper’s optimism will be tested fully in the opening round of matches a Bradninch are away to fancied Exmouth.