Holman relishing having a crack against former Exeter team-mates

Sandford

ROB Holman runs into his former Exeter team-mates for the first time since leaving the County Ground when they visit table-topping Heathcoat.

Play-Cricket, the ECB’s statistical website, credits Holman with playing exactly 200 1st XI games for Exeter between 2002 and 2018. There may be a few not on the list.

Rob Holman - looking forward to playing against his former Exeter team-mates | www.ppauk.comHolman lives and works in Tiverton now and playing for the nearest club made more sense than commuting backwards and forwards to Exeter to play and train.

The former Devon left-hander is looking forward to catching up with his former colleagues, after a tough match.

“I have a lot of friends at Exeter so still speak to them quite often,” said Holman.

“Exeter look really strong so it should be a good game.

“It will be quite fun and a challenge playing against them, especially Tom Lammonby opening the bowling against me.

“And with Dominic Tuohey playing I won’t be the oldest on the field, which will be a nice change!”

Exeter have not won two Saturdays in succession this season and one of their problems has been inconsistent batting. Last Saturday against Paignton they were all out for 158

Although Exeter’s middle-order batting performed a disappearing act Paul Daniels would have been proud of, skipper Tom Pedel is confident it will come good soon.

“There is no issue, we are just a little bit hit and miss currently,” said Pedel

“We have a lot of inexperience, but a tremendous amount of talent in key batting positions, and I'm sure more consistency in our batting is just round the corner.” 

Champions and challengers meet at Queen’s Park where Paignton entertain Sidmouth.

Paignton were top of the table for seven weeks before slipping up against Bovey Tracey.

Sidmouth in third place behind Paignton are attempting to retain the title they won last year.

Nick Gingell, the Sidmouth captain, said after losing two games already this season, another defeat so soon is not an option at QP.

“It is a huge game in the context of our league season,” said Gingell.

“A loss and we are probably too far behind, a win and we are right on Heathcoat’s tail, waiting for any slip up. 

“These are the games we all look forward to.”

Gingell said what Paignton have already achieved this season, their first one back in the Premier Division, is an example to other club with ambitions.

“They remind me a bit of us from 15 years ago,” said Gingell, who remembers Sidmouth shuttling between the Premier and A Divisions in the same way Paignton have in recent summers.

“We had our struggles, up and down divisions but now have a crop of talented youngsters who have all broken through together. 

“Fair play to Paignton. They invested in youth and built from the bottom up with mainly locals, which, in my opinion, is the correct way. A lot of clubs could learn from them.”

“We are looking forward to the game with Sidmouth,” said Paignton captain George Benton. “They've got some big-name players and will be up for the match for sure. 

“We've just got to keep doing the basics right and keep playing as a team. “The more pressure we can keep on Heathcoat the better.”

Sidmouth all-rounder Henry Gater has not recovered from a shoulder injury and spinner Max Hancock is unavailable. Zac Bess returns and Matt Cooke comes in as well. 

“Both give us good depth and a wealth of experience,” said Gingell.

Cole Harford is back in Paignton’s attack, but veteran seamer Stephen George is doubtful with an injury. Noah Wright is standing by.

Sandford and Exmouth clash at Creedy Park in a relegation double-pointer.

Exmouth are out of the bottom two after they defeated Sandford last time out.  Sandford are one place and eight points ahead of the having lost to leaders Heathcoat them Sidmouth (3rd) one after the other.

With North Devon in action at Torquay, all four basement clubs are playing among themselves. It could be all change at the bottom by Saturday evening, a point not lost on Exmouth skipper Andy Buzza.

“Lots can happen this weekend and the four clubs involved all know it,” said Buzza.

“We will look to maintain some positive momentum gathered from the win against Torquay.

“Our aim is to go to Sandford and put together a performance with both bat and ball and come away with another win.

“After that we will see what how the others get on. Until then our minds are solely on our own fixture and what needs to be done to achieve the victory.”

Richard Foan, the Sandford captain, is reading little into his side’s last two outings.

“We have had a tough couple of weeks against comfortably the best two teams in the division with a weakened side,” said Foan.

“We have shown we have the ability to beat sides around us.”

“Exmouth have some decent players who are always a threat but, hopefully, our overall quality will be too much for them.”

Exmouth old boy Sandy Allen is not available against his previous club, which means youngster Adam Small comes in to keep wicket.

“It is good to have him available and it will be a good opportunity for him batting in the top order and keeping without Sandy,” said Foan.

Adrian Small, a former Exmouth captain, is back after a break and will slot into the middle order.

In a much-tweaked Sandford side Foan returns from a holiday, Harrison Jones return in the early order and second team skipper Shaun Hawkins is drafted in.

Elsewhere in the Premier Division, Plymouth are at home to Bovey Tracey.

North Devon captain Tom Popham hopes the eight-wicket win over Plymouth will be the springboard to clambering up the Premier table.

It was North Devon’s first win since they defeated Bovey Tracey in round two and lifts them ahead of Torquay in the bottom two.

It was just the result North Devon wanted ahead of this Saturday’s bottom-of-the-table clash away at Torquay.

For Popham it was a step in the right direction after six successive defeats.

“It was a top performance all round in the end,” said Popham.

“We started poorly with the ball but dragged it back superbly.

“And finally with the bat we built good solid partnerships, which helped us earn a convincing win.”