Cornwood skipper Skeemer wary of Ivybridge going into derby tussle

CORNWOOD skipper Matt Skeemer won’t be underestimating Ivybridge ahead of the derby clash at Oak Park.

The Corns are top of the table with a perfect six-from-six record. The opposition are 70 points down the same table, one place off the bottom.

The Pools Panel would have it down as an odd-on home win, but Skeemer isn’t over-confident.

“They ran us very close in this fixture last year so we are expecting another difficult game,” said Skeemer.

Bowling all-rounder Elliott Staddon returns for Shahzad Ahmad.

Third-placed Paignton make the short trip without seamer Stephen George.

George suffered an ankle injury in the win over Budleigh last Saturday.  Harry Ward replaces him.

Paignton defeated Budleigh by 77 runs after racking up 223 for seven then dismissing them for 146.

It looks convincing, but Paignton captain Richard Ashworth can see room for improvement. He has a point. An eighth-wicket stand of 96 by George and Justin Mann (63) rescued the team from a wobbly 127 for seven.

“Although we fought back well to win last week, we need to put in a more complete performance this week to keep pressure on the top of the table,” he said.

Brixham won for the first time this season when they stumbled over the line by one wicket at Bideford.

George Northcott and Rhys Dallow come back in for Tom Stephenson and Adam Edwards.

Abbotskerswell make the long trek to Bideford this Saturday, feeling good about life after a five-wicket win at Chudleigh hoisted them to fifth in the table.

Early order batsmen Ricky Small-Boyce and Charlie Mitchell are restored to the side. Alex Birt and Connor Adams drop out.

Elsewhere in the A Division, second-placed Torquay go to Budleigh Salterton and Chudleigh entertain Plympton.