A Division promotion race coming to boil in top-four mini-league

Bradninch captain Eliot Acton – the pressure is on Hatherleigh

BRADNINCH skipper Eliot Acton believes tomorrow's home game against Hatherleigh has a huge amount riding on it.

With five games left to play it is wide open at the top where Cornwood (227pts) lead Budleigh (212), Bradninch (207) and Hatherleigh (199).

Hatherleigh have to play all three teams above them in the last month of the season so their run-in could not be any tougher.

Cornwood play Budleigh this Saturday, Hatherleigh a week later then Tavistock, Ivybridge and Plympton to finish.

Budleigh have Hatherleigh and Bradninch to come – the latter on the final day of the season.

Bradninch also play relegation worriers Barton and Abbotskerswell, who will be scrapping for their lives in what is left of the season.

There are no easy points now, but any taken off a rival at this stage of the season effectively count double.

Said Acton: “It is going to be our biggest game of our season so far. 

“We've had some good, tight games against Hatherleigh recently and except this one to be the same.

“Probably more pressure on Hatherleigh to get a result looking at their run of fixtures, but we see it as a great opportunity to set up the rest of our season.

“We know their overseas (Tino Mutombodzi) is a talented bat so will need to make sure we are more clinical than we have been if he offers a chance.”

Acton said what was good enough to beat Ivybridge by 60 runs last time out probably won’t be good enough against Hatherleigh.

““It was a good win but we will need to go up another level against Hatherleigh,” said Acton.

For Hatherleigh captain Mark Lake the game is the first of three in a row that will make or break the season.

Hatherleigh’s next three games are Bradninch (3rd), Cornwood (top) and Budleigh Salterton (2nd). With only two promotion places available, every point is going to be critical from now on.

“Now the big tests come that will define our season,” said Lake.

It is a massive game and both teams will be thinking the same thing. 

“Bradninch don't lose many at home so it's going to be a tough one but we will give it our best shot and see where it takes us.”

Teams news:  Dan Fogerty returns and Jasper Presswell misses out.

The other big game in the division is the top-against-second showdown between Cornwood and Budleigh Salterton at Oak Park.

“This weekend is a great opportunity for us to create a bigger gap at the top of the table,” said Cornwood skipper Matt Skeemer, whose team will be unchanged. 

“Budleigh are a very strong team and with the game being so important we are looking forward to a tough match.”

At the other end of the table Bideford face Barton at Westward Ho!  under pressure to pull off a win.

Paul Heard’s side remains one off the bottom of the A Division following a 58-run defeat at home to Budleigh Salterton.

Abbotskerswell, who were bottom, jumped two places up the table thanks to win over Tavistock.

Barton swapped places with Abbotskerswell after Cornwood trounced them by eight wickets.

Anything less than a win is going to put Bideford deeper in the relegation mire.

It is a crunch game in anyone’s language, but Heard said that’s not a reason for chopping and changing the side.

“Changing things drastically for ‘crunch’ games is not the way to go,” said Heard. 

“We stick to the plans that have got us to this division and hope we perform in order to stay up”

Abbotskerswell, who got out of the bottom two by beating Tavistock last Saturday, are away to Plympton.

“We will need to pick up where we left off from last week and looking forward to seeing our young players go up against theirs,” said Abbots’ skipper and Plympton admirer Nick Watkin.

“I have nothing but respect for Plympton as a club. The way they nurture and produce local talent is excellent. 

“Ben Privett and Elliot Hamilton are further examples of young talent developed by Plympton both of whom have had exceptional seasons.”

Noah Tobias coming in for Jay Hussain is the only change to Abbots’s winning line-up.

Ivybridge captain Harry Solomon expects to lead an unchanged team against Tavistock at Filham Park.

The Bridge are only seven points clear of the drop spots and need a win.

“With it being tight around the bottom half of the table, it is a game we need to win,” said Solomon.