Devon Cricket Board - Sidmouth and Exmouth collide in Premier MoD

SIDMOUTH skipper Will Murray is playing down the significance of tomorrow’s top-of-the-table clash on the Fortfield with arch rivals Exmouth.

Defending champions Exmouth were top of the table prior to last Saturday, when they lost heavily to Exeter.

Sidmouth shot past Exomouth into top spot on the strength of an 80-run win at Plymouth, who were unbeaten before running into Murray’s men.

Victory hoisted Sidmouth 16 points clear of Exmouth at the top of the table – and a win this Saturday could double that advantage.

Murray said Sidmouth had three tough encounters with Exmouth last season and having lost two of them are by no means complacent.

“We beat Exmouth in the first game, but were beaten comprehensively second time and also in the Devon Cup final” said Murray.

“What we don’t want to do is get carried away at this early stage of the season.

“If Exmouth win they are right behind us or even back in front.

“We have to concentrate on winning a big game of cricket, not thinking about what may or may not happen.

“Exeter showed it can be done by putting Exmouth under pressure. We must try to do the same thing.”

Sidmouth had hoped to have fast bowler Adam Dibble available to play, but he is still struggling with a hamstring strain and Somerset won’t release him.

Matt Cooke will continue to deputise in what an unchanged team.

Saturday’s game starts as the earlier time of 11.30am to allow the Devon players in both teams extra time to get to Bury St Edmunds for Sunday’s Unicorns Cup game against Suffolk.

NORTH Devon will have Somerset and England U19 star Jamie Overton in their line-up for tomorrow’s meeting with Cornwood at Oak Park.

Somerset had no game for Overton this week and are keen for him to get some match time in.

Overton played for Devon against Dorset earlier this week and Somerset have freed him to play in Sunday’s Unicorns Cup semi-final against Suffolk in Bury St Edmunds.

Missing from the side that humbled Heathcoat last time out are opener Neil Bettis and batting all-rounder Ed Yeo.

Overton is one replacement with young seamer Sam Witheridge another.

North Devon have had a patchy start to the season, but skipper Matt Westaway hopes the 193-run win over Heathcoat has changed things

He added: “We haven’t won away yet and that is the challenge at Cornwood.”

Cornwood may be propping up the table, but Westaway said they cannot be underestimated.

He still has painful memories of running into Cornwood pro Jackson Thompson when he was assisting Bradninch last season.

“Jackson destroyed us in one game with a good century last season and we will try to keep him quiet,” said Westaway.

“I note he hasn’t had he best of starts this season, but sooner or later he is going to come off and I don’t want that to be against us!”

The game will start at 11.30am so Overton can leave early to hook up with the Devon squad travelling to Suffolk.

EXETER, at home to Sandford, have said farewell to opener Andrew Curtis, who has returned home to Worcester now his studies at Exeter University are over for the year.

Curtis hit 52 in the win over Exmouth last Saturday to take his run tally to 230 in five games this term.

Exeter don’t have a bad replacement lined up though as Somerset and England U17 prospect Ben Green comes in for Curtis.

Sandford dropped back into the bottom three last Saturday following their defeat by Torquay.

Miles Lenygon, the Exeter captain, said Sandford’s position does not make them a soft touch.

“Sandford have shown already this season they can push the best sides, they've got some dangerous players,” said Lenygon.

“Our bowlers need to push on from last weekend’s great performance.

“The batters must be patient and there is extra responsibility on the top order now Curtis has left.”

Sandford recall batter Scott Tremain and hand a debut to young seamer Gary Abdol. Adrian Small and Shaun Hawkins drop out.

BOVEY Tracey go to Plymouth looking to maintain the form that has eased them up the table to sixth after a hesitant start.

They face a Plymouth side whose unbeaten start to the campaign went out of the window when Sidmouth defeated them by 80 runs last time out.

Andy Fairbain, the Bovey captain, isn’t taking much notice of Plymouth’s setback,

“Plymouth have had a great start to the season and we know we will have to play very well to get a win,” said Fairbairn.

“They had a setback against Sidmouth last week and will be very keen to get back on the winning trail against us.

“We are desperate to get a run of wins going and beating Plymouth will make it three in a row so it should be a good game.”

Plymouth captain Matt Hooper is looking for a response from his team after the defeat by Sidmouth.

“I'll be interested to see how the lads respond to the defeat against Sidmouth,” said Hooper.

“Luckily we had a good win against Torquay on Sunday so it wasn't a completely disastrous weekend.

“Sidmouth looked strong on Saturday so it will be interesting to see how they get on (v Exmouth) this weekend too.

“We want to win as many games as we can and we will be looking to do that against Bovey.

“They are on a little run themselves so we know we are in for a tough game.”

TORQUAY continue a run of games away to Heathcoat tomorrow which could make or break their season.

Justin Yau’s side currently occupy the second drop spot, but showed signs of a recovery by beating fellow strugglers Sandford last time out.

A win over Heathcoat, who are only eight points clear of the danger area, should move Torquay out of the bottom two.

With bottom side Cornwood coming up, plus Bovey Tracey who regard Torquay as their bogey side, the win over Sandford may have been a turning point.

“It was pleasing to win but we still haven't hit our straps yet this season,” said Yau.

“We have a massive three games coming up which will dictate which way we will go this season.

“It's time for players to stand up and take responsibility as no one has done it well enough yet.

“Joe Thompson was unbelievable against Sandford - his 68 was probably the best I've seen from him- a real match-winning innings.

“We need more match-winning performances and it's time for everyone to stop relying on others to do the job.

“On paper we are a very good side, the way we are performing at the moment is not good enough and there are no excuses now- six games in (1/3 through the season) and we need to be better.

“Now we've got a win on the board, I'm hoping it will become a habit - Heathcoat are a very good side as their performances this season has shown.”

Matt Hickey and Matt Thompson are out due to work and Max Waller isn’t being released by Somerset as he has T20 commitments this weekend.

“There isn't a better time for players to stand up and be counted,” said Yau.