Devon Cricket Board - Luffman enjoying life in D Division

Luffman enjoying life in D Division

FORMER Plymouth and Tavistock captain Steve Luffman is enjoying a new lease of life at 48 with D Division front runners Yelverton.
Luffman made his Tavistock debut in 1981 and played for 30 seasons either at the Ring or with Plymouth.
His career was almost exclusively played out in the Premier or A Divisions - in his debut season Tavvy were runners-up in the top flight to Exmouth - although Luffman has had a couple of detours into the B Division.
Luffman was close to being ever-present in the Plymouth 1st XI last season, where he scored 264 league runs.
As the new season was about to start last month, Luffman realised he probably wouldn't be an automatic choice this season, which threw up a dilemma. Should he stay, or should he go?
'I looked around at the strength of the 1st XI squad and thought I probably wouldn't get in - then I looked at the 2nd XI as an alternative,' said Luffman.
'Plymouth's 2nd XI is a young side building players up for the future benefit of the club and the average age is around 21.
'The last thing the 2nd XI wanted or needed was a guy of 48 using up a place a young lad should be having a go at.
'I couldn't see myself playing in the 3rd XI, so if I wanted to carry on playing I would have to move.
'Rob West, the captain at Yelverton, is an old mate from when we were together at Tavistock rugby club for a couple of years, and he suggested going up there.
'The cricket isn't the same standard as the Premier Division - you wouldn't expect it to be - but it isn't rubbish and I am enjoying it immensely.'
Luffman said D Division cricket had been an eye opener for him in many ways, particularly the competitiveness.
'The cricket isn't cynical as the Premier Division, which does make it enjoyable to play in,' said Luffman.
'We have had some cracking games already, such as Feniton which we won on the last ball and Seaton, which we lost but was a great match.
'There are some seriously good players in the D Division, like Brian Cann at Feniton who wouldn't look out of place in the Premier Division - and he is not the only one.'
Luffman said he had settled in quickly at Yelverton and was enjoying the change of scenery.
'Yelverton has a very successful youth section and I have found myself doing some casual coaching and passing on some tips to the players coming through,' he said.
'There are lads at Yelverton who want to learn and it is not a bad way of putting something back into a game which has given me so much pleasure to help them out.'

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