Plymouth and Cornwood scrap it out to avoid second drop spot

Callum French - back for Exmouth against North Devon

PLYMOUTH and Cornwood go into the final round of Premier Division fixtures aware one of the will be going down.

Who it is depends on whether Plymouth win at Brixham – and if they don’t if Cornwood can beat visiting Torquay.

Plymouth captain Sam SteinBrixham are already down, but the second drop spot could be filled by Cornwood or Plymouth.

Cornwood are the team under most pressure as they have to find six more points than Plymouth on the last day of the season to get out of the bottom two.

It has been a season of ups and down and I can't ask any more of the effort put in by everyone who has played this year,” said Cornwood skipper Elliot Staddon.

“We go into Saturday knowing we have to do our absolute best to win the game and that's all we can do. Other results are out of our hands.”

Plymouth ought to beat Brixham, but they lost to them earlier in the season so nothing can be taken for granted.

Plymouth captain Sam Stein just wants to get the game out of the way and move on.

“We want to turn up at Brixham and get the job done,” said Stein. "We would like to go and secure our safety in the Prem for another year.

“Everyone knows what is required and what is expected of them. We have to win, there are other scenarios but we aren't thinking about them.

“All the lads have prepared well so it's over to us to do the job.”

Cornwood show one change this weekend.

Aaron Richards is out with a knee problem so Matt Butterworth will keep wicket and Mark Roca comes back in.

EXMOUTH bring down the curtain on their Premier season with a home game against North Devon.

It could be skipper Richard Baggs’ last game in charge of the 1st XI as he was only planning to be caretaker this season.

Baggs handed over to Gary Chappell midway through last summer, but went back to the helm in the close season when his successor left the club for Bradninch.Exmouth all-rounder Callum French

Win or lose Exmouth are destined for a mid-table finish.

“I really want to finish with a win as they would keep us fourth,” said Baggs.

“A  defeat would make us sixth and I feel that would be that bad league finish but fourth is a fair effort.”

Availability is an issue this week as Bob Dawson are probably unavailable, possibly Kazmi as well, but Jon Evernett and Callum French to return to the team.

North Devon also have availability issues as opener Tom Ansell is away in Ibiza, all-rounder Kyle Verreynne has returned to South Africa due to international commitments and Jack Gibbs is at a wedding.

Ross Clayton comes up and Josh King returns after a game in the 2nd XI nursing an injury.

North Devon captain Barney Huxtable is reluctant to carry on next season and this may well be his final game in charge.

“It's just a case of getting to the end of the season, having a few weeks to relax and then there will be talks,” said Huxtable.

“Ed Yeo and Steff James both did fantastic jobs when they relieved me of the role in the season, but whoever takes it on needs to be 100 per cent committed as it is a job you have to want if you are going to do it.”

SIDMOUTH have been hard hit by availability issues for the game against Exeter on the Fortfield this Saturday.

Josh Bess, Matt Cooke and Will Murray are all at a wedding, Work commitments claim Liam Lewis while Harvey Sargent is not available.

Dan PowellBatsman Dan Powell is not available as he is playing rugby for Plymouth Albion.

And seamer Scott Barlow, who was in town last weekend and played on Saturday and Sunday, has returned to London.

Skipper Luke Bess will be filling the gaps as best he can from the 2nd XI.

As the 1st and 2nd XIs have won their respective divisions, at least there is no pressure on either team to get a result.

Exeter expect to name the same side that defeated Brixham by 10 wickets last Saturday.

Former Somerset paceman Alfonso Thomas, who missed Sunday’s Devon Cup final defeat by Sidmouth at Tavistock, will be back in the side.

Exeter are playing for second-placed behind Sidmouth. The only challengers are Heathcoat, who are eight points behind.

Heathcoat need to win against visiting Bovey Tracey and hope Exeter slip up.

They ensured the tussle for second place in the Premier Division will go down to the last day when they beat relegation worriers Plymouth by four wickets,

Bovey Tracey skipper Sam Hickinbottom is looking forward to playing with the pressure of for a change after a difficult second half of the season.

Bovey beat Exmouth last Saturday and Hickinbottom feels they are safe from relegation now.

“If the league table is right we are 21  points clear of Cornwood, and if that is correct we can relax and enjoy the last game,” said Hickinbottom.