Devon Cricket Board - Premier Division prospects

EXMOUTH skipper Richard Baggs is calling for an all-round improvement from his players when they go to Sandford.
Losses to North Devon then Plymouth have seen Exmouth drop from level pegging at the top with Bovey Tracey to 22 points behind in second place.
With Bovey still to play in the last month of the season, a late push for the title isn’t out of the question.
To pull it off though Exmouth have to move up several gears.
“We have three games against teams fighting for survival in Sandford, Heathcoat and Budleigh – then Bovey and Sidmouth (3rd) to finish,” said Baggs.
“To do anything we have to start winning matches, which we haven’ been doing.
“Barney Huxtable has batted well, Trevor Anning has bowled superbly and Andy Buzza has been fantastic in the field.
“The rest of us – and I include myself in that – have not been pulling our weight.
“If we perform are in with a shout. If we don’t then it is mid-table mediocrity for us and we are a better side than that.”
Sandford share joint tenancy of the second relegation spot with Budleigh Salterton.
Skipper Matt Theedom isn’t going into the whys and wherefores, merely highlighting the challenge ahead.
“As any captain of a side in the bottom five will tell you, there are 100 points to play for and the more you get the better your chances of staying up,” said Theedom.
Budleigh, found some form last time out to beat Sandford and are eager to get to grips with Bradninch.
Skipper Joel Murphy, who was captain at Bradninch before rejoining Budleigh three years ago, can see some light a the end of the tunnel.
“Our young bowling attack was excellent against Sandford – and all our frontline batsmen came off on the same day,” said Murphy.
“We showed we can win – now we have to keep doing it.”
A double boost for Budleigh is the return of pace bowler Charlie Morris, the Devon quickie offered summer terms by Worcestershire next season, and spin-bowling all-rounder James Hudson.
It’s a big weekend a the bottom of the table as Torquay face fast-improving Heathcoat.
Wins on the spin over Sandford and North Devon have given Heathcoat hope of staying up.
Torquay lost at Sidmouth last time out, plunging them within 10 points of the drop zone.
Justin Yau, the Torquay captain, said the significance of the game against Heathcoat can’t be downplayed.
“It is our biggest game of the season and we are looking forward to it,” said Yau, who has already lost once to the Tiverton team this term.
“We are into the business end of the season and we are right in the thick of it and need a couple of wins to get us clear of the relegation zone,” said Yau.
“Heathcoat have found a rich vein of form and it was evident from the first time we met this season that they are a very good side.
“The table does not reflect the strength of their side and we will need to be at our best to compete with them.
“Scott Baldry, Matt Hickey, Ben Passenger, Max Waller and, Ian Baker are unavailable so we are a few short this weekend..
“But there is enough strength in depth to win the game if we are at our best."
Heathcoat captain Chris Small is eager to get started as his side are on a roll.
“We are playing some good, tough and competitive cricket so have nothing to lose,” said Small.
“They have some match winners with bat and ball, whom we respect, and at their place they are tough to beat!
“Our record against them is good in recent seasons and that may count for something.”
North Devon will be looking to bounce back from their defeat at Heathcoat when they go to Plymouth.
The Instow men are unlikely to retain the Premier title they won last season as they are 45 points behind leaders Bovey Tracey going into the last lap.
Skipper Matt Dart said there is no point dwelling on the defeat by Heathcoat, other than to write it off.
“We will be at full strength this week with Rob Gear, Tom Ansell and Dan Pickard all back in.
“Having had one to forget last week, the team are looking forward to getting back to playing the way we had been in previous weeks.
“Dan Bowser is fit again after a finger injury last week. He has been in great form with the bat and doing a good job with the ball so I will be looking to him to carry as he has been.
“Everyone else has to raise their games going into the last month.”
Plymouth captain Callum Whittaker has recalled himself having had a fortnight in the 2nd XI trying to regain his batting form.
Matt Hooper and Andy Birkett are unavailable so Ben stein comes in as an all-rounder and Whittaker in the middle order.
“There are a number of lads in the running for spots as batters but as they would be coming up to bat in the lower middle order I feel that I would probably be the best for that role,” said Whittaker.
The big game in the top flight is the first-against-second tussle between Bovey Tracey and Sidmouth at Ashburton Road.
Sidmouth trail Bovey by 22 points at the top of the table. Realistically, this is their last shot at catching the leaders.
“We have the team and the players to beat them – which we have already done this season,” said Sidmouth skipper Will Murray.
“Over the season we have beaten most sides in the division when we play our best cricket.
“When we play ordinary cricket we can slip-up – and have done.
“We know which game we have to produce against Bovey Tracey.”
Big-hitter Nick Gingell is not available, but Liam Lewis is and comes into the side in a straight swap.