Hatherleigh aiming to avoid another relegation scrap | Kagiso Rapulana bringing batting firepower from South Africa

Hatherleigh captain Mark Lake, who aims to steer clear of the relegation zone this season

By CONRAD SUTCLIFFE

HATHERLEIGH performed their own version of the ‘Great Escape’ last season to stay in the Premier Division – something skipper Mark Lake wants to avoid this term.

Mark Lake’s side defeated Exmouth by 10 runs on the last day of the season to stave off the drop and send their opponents down instead.

Hatherleigh’s survival was a close-run thing – 0.23 of an average point over the season – and something skipper Mark Lake does not want to re-live in a hurry.

“Our division looks strong again this year, but we are looking to avoid being in a relegation battle again,” said Lake.

“To be more competitive we need to put bigger scores on the board to give our bowlers more of a chance of winning games for us.”

Lake will want to see some of the runs he is looking for come from new overseas signing Kagiso Rapulana.

“Kagiso plays a very decent level in South Africa and the club can't wait to see what he can do,” said Lake.

“As a top-order batsman who can bowl as well, Kagiso is the ideal fit for us on and off the pitch.”

Rapulana bats right-handed and bowls off-spin for the Gauteng provincial side, of which he is the captain. He has had two previous stints as an overseas player, which were with Long Eaton (2016) and Ulster side Muckamore (2017).

Tino Mutombodzi, who was Hatherleigh’s overseas player last summer, has switched to Plympton this season.

Batter Ryan Dennis, an occasional performer during his three seasons at Hatherleigh, has returned to Bridestowe for the season ahead. Otherwise the side is largely unchanged.

One of the few new faces belongs to West Indian teenager Achilles Brown, who is on a student exchange at nearby Shebbear College.

In three trips to the crease in pre-season games Brown has averaged more than 60 with a top hit of 81 not out last Sunday against Barnstaple & Pilton.

“He looks a decent player,” said Lake.