Devon Cricket Board - South Devon looking ahead with confidence after slump

South Devon looking ahead with confidence after slump

SOUTH Devon skipper Jonty Parsons isn’t about to run up the white flag over the Recreation Ground just yet despite a losing run dating back to August 2011.

The Newton Abbot side haven’t won a match since beating Thorverton on the penultimate day of the 2011 campaign to clinch promotion from the B Division.

Last season was a shocker for South Devon, who were relegated straight back without a win to their name.

And the current campaign is no better with the 164-run loss at Shobrooke Park last Saturday the eighth in a row for Parsons and his team.

Parsons, at 18, is the youngest captain South Devon 1st XI have ever had. Mark Andrews was 23 when he led the side the best part of two decades ago.

Steering South Devon away from a second successive relegation is a tall order for anyone, never mind an 18 year old, but Parsons remains up for it.

“We have come close to winning a couple of times and we are showing signs of improvement,” said Parsons.

“I am convinced one win will lead to another and it then we can start cartwheeling up the table.

“The difficulty is we have lost too many experienced players over the past couple of seasons and have not recruited anyone to replace them.

“I have nothing but admiration for the players who have come up from the 2nd XI this year and given it their best, even though they would be better off developing their game for another season.

“Team morale remains high – and we will carry on showing South Devon’s fighting spirit to try and turn things around.”

South Devon are one of only two clubs in the B Division – Barnstaple & Pilton are the other – not to feature an overseas player in their ranks.

South Devon have had plenty of overseas players in the past – cricketers with long memories will recall hard-hitting West Indian Ian Gore as one of the best – but no one suitable could be found this year.

Long term South Devon are trying to grow from within having re-launched their youth section under former player Dave Leaman fully last year.

South Devon are part of the Chance to Shine project – it takes cricket into primary schools – and hope to have age-group teams running at all levels within a couple of years.

“We had youth teams, but over the last few years we seemed to lose an age-group every year or two, until eventually we were down to one team then none at all,” said Parsons, who was a product of the system.

“The work people like Dave Leaman, Ian Shepherd and Peter Farrell are doing should secure the long term future of the club.”

Right now teenagers such as Tirun Joshi, Rob Stephens and Tom Carne are playing regularly in the 1st XI, when they ought to be learning in the 2nds. Kalon Veale, a 14-year-old seamer with potential, has been roped in to help out as well.

The season reaches half way this Saturday with a home game against Stoke Gabriel, who are two places and 44 points ahead

Parsons hopes to see Jimmy Hart back from college for the second half of the season, and hopes to add a signing or two before the cut-off point.

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