Devon Cricket Board - B Division - Martin confident Chudleigh can make step up

CHUDLEIGH don’t have anything to fear from being promoted this season despite previous experiences to the contrary.
At least that’s the view of skipper Jon Martin as the three-way tussle with Lewdown and Ivybridge for the two promotion places comes to the boil.

Wind the clock back to 2005 and Chudleigh were promoted as B Division champions with Abbotskerswell as their runners up.

Twelve months later Chudleigh were on the up again, accompanying North Devon up into the Premier Division.

Chudleigh hadn’t been in the top flight since 1982 and their return stay wasn’t a happy one.

Chudleigh went straight back to the A Division with only one win to their name at the end of 2007. After two seasons in the A Division, they were relegated back to the B Division at the end of 2009.

Martin was a member of the team that went up and down the last time.

The memories aren’t particularly happy ones – all out for 29 against Plympton was a real low point – but Martin says Chudleigh have moved on a long way.

“The last time we were promoted out of the B Division there was no doubt about it, we were good enough to go up,” said Martin.

“Then we were unlucky enough to get promoted into the Premier Division and we simply weren’t equipped for that level of cricket.

“The club had a few tough years and after one or two players drifted away we ended up back where we started.

“If we are lucky enough to go up this season – and that is by no means guaranteed – I feel we are a lot better prepared to stay in the A Division.

“My old club Barton won the B Division last season – despite us beating them twice.

“Where are Barton this season? Comfortably halfway up the A Division. I would say we are a better side now than this time last year and on that basis we should be excited about the prospect of going up.”

Chudleigh weren’t far away from going up last season, finishing third behind Barton and Hatherleigh. They were third the year before when Plymstock and South Devon went up.

According to Martin there is a reason why Chudleigh have been knocking on the promotion door for a while. They have worked hard at strengthening from within.

“I wouldn’t want any club in our division to think I am knocking them for the way they go about their business as that is up to them,” said Martin.

“Some clubs have one or maybe two players who can dramatically chance the course of a game, without whom they would be a different side. I have got no problem with that.

“We don’t have a 1400 runs a season batsman or a bloke taking 30-plus wickets and scoring 800-odd runs, which I think is our strength.

“In our team we have Scott Schaw up around 400 runs for the season and for or maybe five in the 200s.

“Sean Day – the best bowler in the division in my view – has 30ish wickets and there are three more of us well into the 20s.

“What I am trying to say is we don’t have to worry about a particular player coming off and doing it every week.

“I remember when Plymstock went up two years ago they had Dom Wood playing, who was a superb batsman and scored nearly 900 runs, He left that winter to work in London and they have struggled to replace him.”

Martin believes Chudleigh’s strength is their diversity and the players they have grown themselves.

“The last couple of years in the B Division have been good for giving players experience, which they can take forward with them,” said Martin.

“Ben Holmes gets better and better every year –and he isn’t 20 yet.

“Rob Clarke is another player who has improved the more he has played, with bat and ball.

“If there is one player who has been pivotal for us this season it is Rob. If he doesn’t do it with the ball he does something with the bat – and sometimes both at the same time.

“We know we can complete with the top sides in the county, Cornwood beat us in the Senior Cup earlier in the season, by two runs and only because their opener (Asif Raza) scored a hundred.

“If we do go up – fingers crossed – I believe we are ready.”

Chudleigh play Tavistock tomorrow, a side Martin rates highly as they are similar in outlook to his own team.

“Dave Manning has to be one of the top all-rounders in our division – and he is one of their own,” said Martin.

“Travis Muller their overseas is a bit lively to say the least, but like us they are a team with no out-and-out superstars.

“With better availability over the season, Tavistock would be closer to the top than they are.”

The admiration is clearly mutual, judging by what Tavvy skipper Shaun Daymond said.

“In my eyes Chudleigh are the best side in the division,” said Daymond.

“This is our last shot at any chance of promotion, so we will have to pull a big performance out of the bag.”

Leaders Lewdown are away to Barnstaple & Pilton, who still have some work to do to dodge the drop after their last-ball defeat by Ivybridge.

Ivybridge, third in the table two points behind Chudleigh, are at home to Thorverton.

Two sides with relegation fears meet when Shobrooke Park entertain Stoke Gabriel.

South Devon, already resigned to relegation, are at home to Alphington, who are in danger of going with them unless they can get out of the bottom two.