Devon Cricket Board - Exeter aiming to go one better in 2012

Exeter aiming to go one better in 2012

EXETER are starting preparations for the new season early to try and build on a strong 2011 season for the club.

All three adult teams finished in the top three of their respective divisions in the Francis Clark Devon League.

The 1st XI narrowly missed out on bouncing straight back in to the Premier by just one point, Sandford pipping them for the runners-up slot, whilst the 2nd XI finished second in the Premier 2nd XI competition

The 3rd XI didn’t miss out as they won the E Division East.

Skipper Jon Tipper knows where he wants to go in 2012 – back to the Premier Division – and that’s why nets are starting early.

“We are notoriously slow starters so it won’t do any harm to get in the nets a bit earlier than usual,” said Tipper.

“In the second half of last season we only lost one game – Braunton away – had a winning draw with champions Torquay and won the rest that we finished,

“Had we been a bit more reliable in the first half of the season we would have walked promotion. And it would not have taken much more.

“I remember five or six games in we went to Abbotskerswell, were bowled out for next to nothing, lost by 10 wickets and didn’t get anything out of the game.

“A couple of points from that game would have sent us up. I wondered at the time if it would prove costly – and it did.”

“Our aim next season is to bring Premier Division cricket back to the County Ground, and if that means at bit of extra preparation, so be it.”

Tipper hopes to have the bulk of last season’s squad to call on, although it’s farewell time to pace bowler Tschepo Legodi, who has hunt up his boots.

On the plus side keeper-batsmen Cameron Grainger should be available more regularly this season and a change in working patterns means opening bowler Andy Mead can play more often.

Nets take place at the nearby Devon Cricket Centre fortnightly during January and February – the next session is on January 26 – then weekly every Thursday from April 8. Start time is 7pm and four practice lanes have been booked for an hour each night.

With three Saturday teams, a Sunday XI, a Tuesday T20 team and Midweek XI matches there is cricket available for all abilities of player.
Exeter’s net dates are: Thursday 26th January; Thursday 9^th & 23rd February; Thursday 8^th, 15th, & 22nd, 29th March; Thursday 5th, 12th April. Further details at www.exetercricketclub.co.uk

DCB Ltd, University of Exeter Sports Hall, Stocker Road, Exeter, Devon EX4 4QN Company Registration Number: 7024773