Crunch time in Premier basement for Sandford and Hatherleigh

Hatherleigh

IT’S crunch time for Hatherleigh this Saturday when they visit fellow strugglers Sandford.

Hatherleigh’s 135-run reversal at Sidmouth last time out was their fifth defeat in a row. It dropped them into the bottom two with only Sandford left below them.

Losing to the leaders wasn’t a disaster, but losing to fellow strugglers Sandford this Saturday and Bradninch on the next two match days might be.

“The next two weeks will define our season,” said Hatherleigh skipper Mark Lake.

A defeat this Saturday could let Sandford creep ahead of Hatherleigh, making the fight for survival that much tougher.

A win will increase the pressure on Sandford and give Hatherleigh real hope of getting out of the bottom two. Bradninch, the team three points ahead of Hatherleigh, are playing leaders Sidmouth.

Lake said the players know exactly what is required of them.

“I think both sides will be saying the same thing, it a must-win game,” said Lake.

“Sandford are a dangerous side with good players and we will need to play better cricket than we have in the last month if we are to compete, let alone win.”

Seamer Simon Gillespie comes into the side for all-rounder Jack Cherrington.

Richard Foan, the Sandford skipper, feels three wins will keep the side up and is targeting one this Saturday.

“It is a massive game for the team as club is very keen to be playing Premier cricket again next year,” said Foan.

“We have gone out trying to win every game we have played so this week will be no different in that way.

“It is still in our hands to go out and win three more games this season hopefully we can get one of those this weekend.”

Sandford look like being without veteran paceman Matt Theedom, who injured an ankle in last Saturday’s win at Bovey Tracey.

NORTH Devon head for Plymouth this Saturday keen to get back to winning ways after their ‘defeat’ at Exeter.

The Instow outfit scored more runs than Exeter in the same number of overs in a rain-affected game, but lost by 33 runs under the rules of the Duckworth-Lewis System.

North Devon are sixth in a table of ten: 40 points clear of the relegation places and 53 behind leaders Sidmouth.

North Devon head to Plymouth this Saturday, a side that has won six of its last seven starts.

“I'm expecting a tough game against a side that seem to have gathered a lot of momentum since we played them earlier in the season,” said North Devon skipper Matt Westaway.

Opening bat Dan Bowser is back having missed the game against Exeter.

Batting all-rounder Tom Popham is unavailable, as is Alfie Huxtable. Jack Hockin and Rikki Kelly will come in.

James Toms comes back into Plymouth’s top order, releasing Steve Luffman to return to captain the second team.

Jon Varcoe, the Plymouth captain, said: “Looking forward to another tough game against North Devon.

“The game up at theirs earlier in the season was a tough loss so will be looking to put that right on Saturday.”

SIDMOUTH have said farewell to South African all-rounder Aviwa Mgijima ahead of the game at Bradninch.

Mgijima has returned home to get married, which wasn’t a surprise for Sidmouth as they knew of his plans before signing him.

And from here on in the current Premier leaders are going with what they have got, rather than bringing in a professional replacement.

“We are past the registration deadline now, which made it difficult anyway, and for five games it wasn’t worth the cost involved,” said Sidmouth secretary Anthony Griffiths.

Bradninch moved out of the bottom two last Saturday by beating former leaders Heathcoat.

Tim Piper, who is captaining the Ninch in the absence of Gary Chappell, feels Sidmouth will be harder to beat than Heathcoat.

He added: “A second top-of-the-table team to play in two weeks isn't ideal, but with home advantage again we remain positive especially after our performance last week.

“Sidmouth, in particular, hate coming to 'lowly' Bradninch.”

Batter Rory Thomas has recovered from illness and comes back into the side at the expense of former Devon spinner Will Squire.

HEATHCOAT are looking for a win at Bovey Tracey to make up for the disapppointment of a rain-off at Bradninch that cost them the leadership.

Skipper Peter Randerson has brought in Louis Stephenson who has been taking lots of wickets in the 2nd XI, including a hat-trick against Chardstock last Saturday.

Opener Liam Lewis is back, so is middle-order batter Sam Smith. 

“We're tearing to go,” said Randerson.

Bovey are only 21 points clear of the drop spots in the Premier Division and in danger of being dragged into the relegation scrap if they don’t win a game or two.

Bovey beat Heathcoat by 54 runs when the sides met in the first half – Minhj Jalill scoring a ton – and more of the same would suit captain Toby Codd.

“First time around against Heathcoat was one of our best performances of the season to date, so fingers crossed we can replicate it this Saturday,” said Codd.

Lewis Hammett and Arren De Young are out for Tom Andrew and Brad Causey.

ELSEWHERE in the Premier Division old foes Exeter and Exmouth clash on the County Ground.

Seam bowler Tom Pedel is set to return to an otherwise unchanged Exeter side.