Devon Cricket Board - B Division - Lewdown and Chudleigh meet in cruncher

Chudleigh skipper Jon Martin, who says the next three games are pivotal to being promoted

MATCH of the day in the B Division is the meeting between joint leaders Lewdown and Chudleigh.

Chudleigh crushed South Devon by 10 wickets last Saturday to move level with Lewdown at the top on 216 points.

Lewdown’s lead evaporated as they lost to neighbours Tavistock, who have now done the double over them this season.

It’s not a two-horse race for the promotion places yet as Ivybridge (196pts) and Tavistock (190) remain in the running.

Lewdown captain Harry Geering said although there is a sizeable gap between the top two and third place, it isn’t as wide as it looks.

“This is the biggest game of the season for us and Chudleigh,”” said Geering.

“It is a must-win game that could be the difference between being first and third come the end of the season, with Ivybridge and Tavvy on our tails.

“We know what we did wrong last week. We had a few starts but no one went on with the bat.

“Hopefully we will be back to winning ways this week.”

Lewdown won at Chudleigh earlier in the season, but it was a close-run thing on a wet day.

The big games will keep coming for Chudleigh as they have Tavistock and Ivybridge coming up in successive Saturdays.

Skipper Jon Martin says if Chudleigh do go up they will have earned promotion the hard way.

“We have got ourselves into a great position and playing the three teams behind us in the next four weeks means we have to play our best cricket to go for the title,” said Martin.

“We lost to Lewdown before in a game we should’ve won.

“Hopefully being back to strength then a little payback is on the cards as we try to extend the gap at the top.”

At the other end of the table Stoke Gabriel will be looking to go past Thorverton and out of the bottom three.

South Devon appear doomed – lose to Ivybridge and it will be all over for them with four games to go – but anyone of five clubs could be going with them.

Stoke skipper Josh Dowling believes his team are good enough to avoid being sucked down with South Devon.

“Looking at the table this is a big game,” said Stoke skipper Josh Dowling.

“Again we have a lot of changes, which has been the theme all season.

“I am frustrated that we can’t put out a consistent team as I honestly feel if we could we would safely be a mid-table team.

“The club have made inroads this year and I am keen to make sure they stay in the B Division.

“I think it’s important the club maintains B Division status.

“We have some fine young cricketers and they need to be tested week in week out. “Thorverton have had some interesting results, they are a good all-round side and we will have to play some good cricket to get the win over them.”

Thorverton are only four points in front of Stoke, which is leaves no room for error.

Dave Baldock, the vice-captain at Thorverton, said the next two games are crucial.

“We have two big home games in a row against Stoke and Shobrooke Park that will decide our season,” said Baldock.

“We are looking to channel the momentum from last weeks chase against Barnstaple & Pilton into another positive performance

Graham White and Jake Crouch are recalled to the side.

Tavistock skipper Shaun Daymond isn’t putting any pressure on his side ahead of the game against Alphington.

Beating Lewdown twice hints at what Tavvy can do on their day, but they are fourth in the table because of five defeats against lesser opposition.

“Our aim is to just enjoy it and try and win our last five games,” said Daymond.

“If we do that we will put ourselves in with a chance.”

Alphington, second bottom with five games to go, area still smarting about last Saturday’s rain-affected game against Shobrooke Park

Alphas skipper Stuart Shaw said his side were victims of the rule book in cruel way.

“I was disappointed with the way the game ended last week as we had bowled well first innings, keeping them to a below-par score of 194,” said Shaw.

“When we started batting, it was raining, which wasn’t a problem to both sides.

“We lost a couple of early wickets but nothing to be too worried about.

“Paul James and Ben Ireson batted well to pull the innings together - still in the rain – and the calculation was 87 off 20 overs,

“So when we were 86 for four with 19 overs gone and the umpires decided to call it off, you can imagine I was less than impressed.

“We had played in the rain from ball one and for them to call it off with one over to go to constitute a game was very frustrating.

“That said I felt we played well as a unit and feel if we keep these levels up till the end of the season we will accumulate enough points to stay up,

“I have a great bunch of lads, who play first team week in and week out and give 110 per cent on the field.

“I am sure they will get us over the line.”

Elsewhere in the B Division, Barnstaple & Pilton visit Shobrooke Park.

B&P will be looking for some light relief at the end of a week which has seen two of their players reported to the league discipline committee for alleged remarks made to an umpire in the game against Alphington last time out.