Devon Cricket Board - Premier previews - Smith returns for North Devon

SIDMOUTH captain Will Murray believes none of the sides chasing the premier title will get through the rest of the season unbeaten – which is why he isn’t loading the pressure on ahead of tomorrow’s trip to the Maer to play Exmouth.

Bovey Tracey and Exmouth are joint top of 160 points with Sidmouth next on 152, followed by Exeter on 148.

With eight games and 160 points minimum to play for the situation remains fluid, which is why Murray remains relaxed.

“I would like to win against Exmouth as that ought to put us ahead of them, but it isn’t a massive game yet,” said Murray.

“Bovey Tracey have lost a couple recently and because of that everyone has bunched up behind them.

“Exeter have come storming up the table, North Devon have strengthened and none of the teams near the top is going to be unbeaten for the rest of the season.

“We will go out looking to win at Exmouth as we always do. They are a fine side with five Devon players in for most games and it will be tough.”

Richard Baggs, the Exmouth captain, is singing from the same song sheet as Murray.

“It is a big game but not a deciding one,” said Baggs. “Let’s hope it is enjoyable and there are lots of runs.”

Exmouth are unchanged from the side that won at Bradninch last time out.

Plymouth will be looking for a first win in three starts when they entertain lowly Bradninch.

Losses to Exeter and North Devon have seen the city side drop out of the top four – and they want to make up some of that lost ground.

Skipper Matt Hooper has a pretty shrewd idea where it has been going wrong and is hoping the batters come good again.

“The top order know that one of them needs to get a big score as when we have lost that is what the opposition have done to us,” said Hooper.

“Looking forward to the game, great weather and should be another cracking pitch at Mount Wise.”

Bradninch, losers last time out against Exmouth by 33 runs, need a win to get off the bottom and start climbing the table.

Skipper Tim Piper is confident it will be Plymouth who come away empty handed.

“I was very pleased with the performance against Exmouth and if we can play like that every game, we'll finish mid table,” said Piper.

“Exmouth have a very strong team and we pushed them all the way. It was a fairly competitive match.

“Plymouth seem to be struggling of late. We know they have a few stand-out players that we should be wary of, but we know enough about them for it not to bother us too much.

“People have been telling me they may challenge for the title this year, but that's just laughable really and the last few weeks have confirmed that.

“We're going to have a great chance of beating them. I'm looking forward to tightly fought match.”

Batters James Street and Matt Jarrett are away this weekend.

Joe Webb is available again, after being on holiday for the last three weeks.

Torquay have delayed naming their side for the Rec Ground meeting with Exeter as skipper Ben Passenger attempts to bolster his side’s batting.

The team hasn’t been announced yet, but the rumour from the Rec is that a batter who hasn’t featured this season will be making his first appearance.

Torquay don’t have too many players on their register who fit that bill, although former Devon batter Matt Hunt and Blue Matt Hickey do match the description.

Other business passenger has to sort out includes which bowlers to bring in to replace Jack Bradbury and Mark Gilmour, both of whom are injured.

Torquay have managed to stay clear of the drop zone so far, but too many more defeats like last Saturdays 168-run pounding by Sidmouth would change things.

Matt Thompson, the Torquay vice-captain, said climbing the table has become a priority.

“The sooner we start putting some distance between the bottom three clubs the better - we are looking forward to the challenge,” said Thompson.

“Exeter are the form side in the division and have an impressive line up,

“That said we have a good record against them in the past so we won't be giving them a yard. “

Torquay won at the County Ground earlier in the season so despite their current lack of form Exeter skipper Tom Viljoen is wary of them.

“I think our biggest aim is just to try and maintain momentum,” said Viljoen, who missed the win over Bovey last Saturday.

“Travelling to Torquay is never easy, they have good players, who if you let them, can take games away from you.

“We learned that the hard way when they came to us.”

BOVEY Tracey skipper Peter Bradley has threatened a shake-up for the game against Cornwood tomorrow.

Having lost twice in the last three games. The Premier leaders are feeling the pressure at the top of the table.

Said Bradley: We are a unchanged team for the fourth week in a row.

“However changes maybe be happening with our set up..

|We need to improve greatly from last week.

Cornwood will be fighting and we need a little more fight about us in the field.

“I'm hoping and expecting big runs from our batting line-up, with the weather we have had.

:But that also means we will have to have more energy in the field, because the outfield is looking dry and quick - and the wicket looks good.”

BUDLEIGH Salterton skipper Joel Murphy wants to see some pride in the shirt from his players as the relegation dog-fight heats up.

The Otters are at home to North Devon tomorrow and need a win to start eating away at the 25-point gap between them and safety.

One win in 10 starts is all Budleigh have to show for their efforts – and Murphy knows what the problem is.

“Our fifth bowler – that’s where it is going wrong,” said Murphy.

“It doesn’t matter what the rest of us do up top, if you add the fifth bowler figures up it comes to six wickets for 700 runs in the 10 games so far.

“Had we not bowled 44 wides against Cornwood last week, we would have won.

“We know we can beat the best in our division – ask Sidmouth about that!

“What we need know is for players to concentrate on playing for Budleigh, forget any outside influences and play for the pride in the badge on their shirts.”

North Devon welcome back South African pace-bowling all-rounder Jason Smith, who had t fly home last week to play for South Africa U19s.

North Devon have won four of the last five, which is why they have shot from second bottom to fifth, and skipper Matt Dart wants to maintain the good work.

“As with last week against Plymouth, if we keep the big guns like Burke and Dawson quiet we have a great chance,” said Dart.

“But it's sure to be a decent pitch with plenty of runs scored.”