By CONRAD SUTCLIFFE

ALTHOUGH the dust has barely settled on the 2021 cricket season, Dartington & Totnes CC are already looking ahead to summer 2022.

Indoor net sessions in readiness for the new campaign start at the Devon Cricket Centre on the University of Exeter campus on Monday, November 15. The two-hour session gets under way at 8pm.

Darts did not have a great 2021 season in the Tolchards DCL B Division, but did enough to stay out of the bottom two and avoid relegation.

Mick Rusling, the D&T chairman, is resigned to losing established players before next season starts and wants to focus on regenerating the senior side of the club.

“Coaching has previously focused on junior players, but we’re also keen to develop our senior players and hope to have more adult coaching,” said Rusling.

“We’ve been fortunate to keep Jono Colegate over the past few seasons, but it’s likely Jono will be moving on to play at a higher level, which he’s certainly capable of.

“The vultures have been descending, unsettling one or two other players, and I expect a couple will leave.

“I can understand players leaving to develop their cricket careers and play at a higher level, but I’m frustrated if players move sideways or below.”

If Colegate does move on – and Bovey Tracey are widely believed to be hot on his tail – Darts will miss his all-round contribution with bat and ball.

Since returning from a brief stint with Premier side Torquay in 2015, Colegate has scored more than 1,600 league runs for D&T and taken more than 100 league wickets.

Colegate started the 2021 summer as 1st XI skipper, but midway through the season the reins were passed to Chris Cook. No decision has been made on who will lead the side in 2022.

Rusling said it is ‘unlikely’ former Hampshire fast bowler Ryan Stevenson will return to his boyhood club after leaving the pro ranks in August, but other new faces are in the pipeline.

“We hope to engage a strong overseas all-rounder for next season – and would like to recruit more players,” said Rusling.

“Anyone who would like to have a crack at playing B Division cricket with us next season is welcome at our indoor net sessions.”

Contact Rusling here

Rusling said newcomers to Foxhole would see where the club’s priorities have been in recent seasons.

“We have been steadily improving our facilities with marvellous outdoor nets and substantial pitch improvements,” said Rusling. 

“We’ve managed to obtain funding to renew some of our ground machinery and are looking to extend/update our pavilion.”

Rusling said rumours that the second team would be withdrawn from the DCL are wide of the mark.

“We plan to continue running a second team,” he said.