Test of credentials for Bideford and Shobrooke Park

Missing tomorrow - Filleigh

BIDEFORD can press their B Division promotion credentials when they face leaders Shobrooke Park at home on Saturday.

Shobrooke made it three wins on the spin when they beat Abbotskerswell last Saturday.

Bideford are up to third in the B Division table following their 83-run win over 10-man Ottery St Mary.

Oliver Hannam and Josh Atkinson are missing from the Bideford side, but spinner Michael Lemmings returns and 2nd XI keeper-batsman Ian Hayter come into the side after scoring heavily.

Shobrooke have availability issues as all-rounder Dan Robbins and seamer Tom Youngman are out.

Pete Turner and Andrew Steer come in and skipper Chris Simpson is back after a week out.

“Pete’s been scoring runs in the 2nd XI and so has Andrew,” saiud Simpson on the selections.

“Bideford are one of the top teams in this division and, we will have to play well to beat them.”

FILLEIGH need a win against Seaton this Saturday to stop themselves becoming stuck in the bottom three,

A 53-run defeat by Ipplepen last time out was Filleigh’s third defeat since being promoted into the division.

Filleigh were promoted alongside Seaton, who have only won once themselves.

Prideaux said the game is on the target list to win.

“We are familiar with Seaton, having played them for a number of years, and can take some confidence that we beat them last year,” said Prideaux.

“It is always a tough game and we are looking forward to it.

“After our typically slow start we have a tough run of games and I hope our batting line up can live up to potential.”

Seamer Jon Hickman is back in the side, but batter Mark Prideaux is absent.

Seaton are on a high after they won at Thorverton.

Josh Cann comes into the early order for Kevin Moran in an otherwise unchanged side.

THORVERTON need to kick-start their season this Saturday when they face Abbotskerswell.

Last Saturday’s 49-run defeat by Seaton was their third on the trot and dropped them into the B Division bottom three.

The pressure is on Thors to beat Abbotskerswell this Saturday to start moving up the table.

Jake Broom comes in for ex-Thors’ skipper Graham White after missing out last week to add to the seam department.

“I am hoping for a bit more of a complete performance this week and we've got a pretty balanced team out,” said Thorverton captain Andy Pitt.

Abbots were the latest team to fall by the wayside to Shobrooke Park last time out, a result skipper Charlie Hill wants to forget.

“We are looking forward to bouncing back and getting a positive result from the game,” said Hill.

Abbots are a couple of players light this week as batter Jimmy Fulner and bowler Noah Tobias are absent.

Teenage off-spinner Charlie Smout-Cooper, the leading wicket taker in the 2nd XI last season, comes in for his debut along side seasoned left-hander Paul Mitchell.

TAVISTOCK will want to follow up their win over Thorverton with another over visiting Ottery.

Ottery are in a similar boat to Thorverton, winless so far this season.

Tavvy are without Ian Gray (unavailable) and batter Dave Ball, who has returned to Lewdown after two seasons.

Good news is the availability of all-rounder James White, who is home from college for half-term.

“Looking for a big win at home,” said skipper Shaun Daymond.

“We're looking forward to hopefully a dry, full game of cricket, which at home we will be looking to take maximum points.

We had a great game against Ottery last year so should be a good one.”

Ollie Reed, who took 16 wickets for Ottery last season, has left the club and joined C East side Kilmington.

Tavistock have recruited much-travelled batter and occasional off-spinner Dave Watson.

Watson was previously with Tavistock between 1978-1992 before embarking on a tour of clubs in the West Devon area.

On his travels Watson played for Whitchurch (1993), Yelverton (1994), Plymouth (1995-2002), Tavistock (again) in 2003 then back to Plymouth until now.

“Basically, I have played for anyone who would have me or was prepared to put up with me,” said Watson, one of the old-school characters in Devon League cricket.

IPPLEPEN have a point to prove when they face Barton at Moor Road.

Barton defeated Pens twice last season, not that it did them much good as both sides ended up being relegated.

Pens won at Filleigh last time out and skipper Sam Wakeham wants to keep the momentum going.

“We look to have a lot more depth in both areas this week and we are going to need it,” said Wakeham.

“Barton are a good side and had the better of us twice last year.

“The track should be a belter so I am expecting lots of runs.”

Joe Abbott, Magwan Penrice, Sam Defriend, Adam Peters and Jonny Norman replace, Harrison Gorny, Matt Quartley, Tom Cooper, Reuben Stanley and Jack Lewis, who is away.

Barton, on the up after defeating Tavistock, are forced to make changes as they have players missing.

Andy Hele, Matt Needham and Scott Baldry aren’t around so Scott Bellamy, Matt Lipton and Nathan Beech drop in.

Skipper Adam Parker said: “I am looking for a strong performance to help us put a run of positive results together.

“Our batting needs to click and bowling-wise we need to carry on the early season form that we have shown.”