Cann's return a timely boost for Seaton's promotion prospects

Ollie Pinnock - back in Seaton

SEATON have been given a boost for the promotion run in with the return of Josh Cann after a lengthy lay-off.

Seaton, who are away to Plymstock tomorrow, are 31 points clear at the top of the table, but have played one more game than chasers Thorverton and Plymstock.

Second-placed Bovey Tracey 2ndXI – 30 points behind – cannot be promoted this season. And as they have played the rest f top four already, won’t have a bearing on who goes up.

Cann’s 24 in the 85-run win over Kilmington last Saturday, was his first knock of the season. He sustained a nasty fracture of an arm playing football in late April.

Said Morgan: “Having Josh back batting is a big bonus for us. 

“The middle order has been something of a concern this season as we have got starts, but not gone on.

“To have a fit Josh Cann back again in the fold can only add further strength to our cause.”

Ollie Pinnock replaces Richard Warner in the only change to the side that walloped Kilmington.

Plymstock have only won two of their previous five games, which has put them in limbo land behind the top three.

They are 18 points behind second place so promotion is still possible, but on 39 points off the relegation zone, which is a slight worry to the team management.

“It is a massive weekend whatever way you look at it,” said vice-captain James Nicholls, who also has an eye on Sunday’s  Corinthian Cup finals festival at Bovey Tracey,

“If we have any promotion aspirations then we have to win at least four of our last five games.

“It is also very tight and we don't want to get dragged into the mire like last year, so we need to perform.”

Derek Perry - an inspiration to younger players at BoveyOn Plymstock’s recent run, Nicholls said: “We know where we are going wrong and we have worked hard to address it.

“We will give it everything we have got against a good and well-balanced side. “Seaton are on a good run but they are delusional if they think they are coming to our plays for an easy game of cricket.”

Thoverton, at home to Chudleigh, will be without keeper Harry Choules and skipper Andy Pitt. Alistair Chilcott comes in as a batter and Ben Coe as a utility player.

Chudleigh, feeling more comfortable after beating Brixham in the basement battle last time out, show a clutch of changes.

Will Heather, Andy Robinson and Saqib Hasan are out. Alex Haywood, Will Lammonby and Matt Heather come back in.

“Thorverton are a good team, but our confidence is high so hoping to get a result,” said skipper Matt Heather.

Bovey Tracey, who have won six of the last seven games, are at home to Kilmington tomorrow.

The first four games were all loses, but since then Bovey have had the best record of any team in the division.

Assessing the season so far, skipper Jeremy Christophers said: “During May we struggled to come to terms with the standard of this division.

“Most teams had an overseas player, which we don't. That said we do have a very good naturalised overseas player in Derek Perry. 

“Derek is proving to be an object lesson for all the younger players in his application with both bat and ball and his appetite to train hard.”

For the record Perry has scored five 50s in a tally of 451 runs and taken 21 league wickets at 17.43 each.

Elsewhere in the B Division, Ipplepen are at home to Cullompton.