Plymstock batters need to buck up against A Division pacesetters

BUDLEIGH Salterton could do with a win at Plymstock on Saturday to revive a season that is flagging fast.

A 144-run defeat by Hatherleigh last time out left Budleigh third from bottom in the A Division.

Budleigh were being talked about as promotion contenders at the start of the season. Joel Murphy, the former captain and admin manager for the team, said after two defeats in four starts a reassessment is needed.

“The Hatherleigh captain was reported as saying his side outplayed ours in every department – and I would totally agree with him,” said Murphy.

“Our batting was woeful and that has to improve if we want to be contenders to stay in the A Division, never mind being contenders for promotion.”

All-rounder Phil Anning, one of skipper Trevor Anning’s cricket-playing brothers, has transferred in from Shobrooke Park this week and will play at Plymstock.

Anning has previously played for Exmouth and also Feniton.

Plymstock need a win ever more than Budleigh having lost three of their first starts. Being bowled out for 80 by Cornwood and 65 at Lewdown in their last two games, the batting has to improve.

With skipper Scott Mansfield on holiday, James Nicholls is in charge of the team.

Said Nicholls: “We know we are better than 81 all out and 65 all out... saying it is easy and we know we have to show this now as it's not acceptable at this level.

“We know we will not end up where we want to be if this continues.

“We have full confidence in our ability and we aim to put it right this Saturday. 

“We won’t worry about who we are playing and who they have got. It is about executing our plans correctly in the field and showing a lot more grit fight and intelligence in our batting.”

New dad duties prevented Nicholls playing at Lewdown but he returns to pep up the batting.

Ian Whalley returns and Seb Jordan comes back in to bolster the bowling.

Matt  Ball is working and George Barnicott goes into the 2nd XI.

HATHERLEIGH are aiming for a fifth straight win at the top of the A Division when Plympton visit on Saturday.

Mark Lake’s table-toppers made it four wins on the trot– and only one dropped point along the way – when they won by 144 runs at Budleigh Salterton last time out.

It’s so far so good for Lake, who is determined not to let over-confidence creep in.

“The lads could not be any more confident going into this weekend  but we take nothing for granted or it will come back and bite you,” said Lake.

“Plympton have some good players so we will have to perform well to gain maximum points.”

Lake has more available players than spaces this Saturday and will have to make some selection choices

“With a couple players back I have a selection dilemma, which is a good problem to have,” he said.

Craig Donohue returns to lead the Plympton side after a weekend off.

Wrench and Harry Kandampully also return but unavailable are Chris Jelley, Tom Richards and Alex Carr.

Plympton won by three wickets at Brixham last time out, a result Donohue says has given the club a lift.

“Following last week’s win the lads are in good spirits,” said Donohue.

“We always have good, competitive games with Hatherleigh and I expect this one to be no different.

They have started the season well and seem to be playing well, but we go there full of confidence knowing that if we put in a performance we can come away with a positive result.”

Plympton are fourth in the table, but mathematically closer to the bottom two than the top two!

Donohue said that was proof what a close division it is going to be this summer.

“We are just looking to be as consistent as we can and string a few positive results together,” he said.

SECOND-placed Sandford will be going for a fifth straight win when they entertain Brixham.

Brixham have yet to win a game following relegation from the Premier Division, although the arrival of Somerset’s Jim Allenby may change that.

Allenby performed the hat-trick against Plympton last Saturday, yet still ended up on the losing side.

Brixham have Allenby for at least seven games unless he is recalled to the Somerset first team.

Matt Theedom replaces Ben Clement in the Sandford side, a batter for a bowler.

Sandford skipper Richard Foan is well aware where Brixham are in the table – and is doing his best to ignore it.

“I am expecting a tough game against a side playing Premier cricket last year,” said Foan. I hope we can keep up the good start and keep the winning run going.”

LEWDOWN have to bat better against Cornwood if they are going to beat the early front-runners.

That’s the view of club captain Harry Geering going into the trip to Oak Park.

Lewdown won by 60 runs against Plymstock last Saturday, which looks convincing enough before factoring the to-win total of 136.

Tallan Burns and Billy Searle delivered the win with four wickets each.

Said Geering: “We really need to step up with the batting and apply ourselves.

“hopefully the more experienced players at the top of the Horder can start to get in the runs and transfer starts into big runs.

“It is going to be a tough game as Cornwood are a very good side. Hopefully we can continue bowling and fielding in the mannerr we have.

Lewdown show one change from last week's side. Tom Pearce is back from University and makes his seasonal debut as Nick Hayden drops down to strengthen the 2nd XI.

Batting is also on the mind of Cornwood team chief Duncan Boase, whose side has won the last two games.

Cornwood have only scored four half-centuries so far this season – and Steve Lambert has made two of them. Boase wants to see some other names in the scorebook.

“We want more of the last two weeks, but I would like to see someone go on from getting 30-40 to 90-100.”

Matt Tamsett is back in the side having missed the win over Ivybridge., He had five wickets the week before against Plymstock. Aaron  Richards drops down to the second team.

“Very difficult decision who to drop but Aaron misses out,” said Boase 

“We have a very strong all-rounder situation at the moment and felt he would be better going top three in the twos.”

Chudleigh are away to Ivybridge in the A38 derby