- South Dartmoor back to winning ways in cups
- Tom Allin tournament raised more than £5,000 for air ambulance
- Taverners kit bag delivered to Sri Lankan youngsters
- Devon trying to contact the class of 56
- Paceman Tshepo running in Virgin London Marathon
- Five Devon women in Western Storm squad for Kia Super League
- Registration night for all ages at Topsham on Monday
- Lots pouring in for auction at Allin Memorial tournament
- Thames Valley Gentlemen Cricket Club
- Bradninch add Argentinian flavour to Devon League
- Ipplepen youth registration night on Friday
- Final call for Groundsmans first seminar this year
- Devon League official tackling London Marathon for charity
- Bovey on familiar territory in Aaron Printers Cup
- Brockman Cup - Cup Kings lie in wait for holders
- Shepherd Trust helps Kingsbridge build for sustainable future
- DCL - Umpire Appointments 2016 (May 7th - July 2nd)
- Long standing records beaten
- North Devon see off Paignton chase
TORQUAY captain Justin Yau said the challenge facing the Seasiders after last season’s grand slam was how to follow it in 2016.
Torquay won the Tolchards Devon League Premier Division for the first time since 1997 and took the divisional titles at second and third team level too.
New signing Matt Petherbridge took 33 wickets in his first season of Premier cricket – and was named the Bob Bridges Youth Player of the Year.
Previous winners have included Mark Lathwell (1991) and Chris Read (1994), both of whom went on to play for England and England Lions trio Craig and Jamie Overton (2011) and Lewis Gregory (2009).
Petherbridge is the first Torquay player to win the award since Matthew Hunt (Gloucestershire and Devon) in 1995.
Torquay have lost Ryan Stevenson to Hampshire, Devon captain Matt Thompson to Welsh side St Fagans and are unlikely to see too much of paceman Kazi Szymanski in 2016 as he is on Glamorgan’s books.
Sach Galhenage – 381 runs, 15 wickets in the title winning team – has been advertising his availability on an agency website, but Torquay are confident he will remain their overseas player for another summer.
Yau hasn’t been idle since the season ended – and with gaps to fill he still has work to do.
“It will certainly be hard to replicate what we've done in 2015, but we are already looking forward to the new season with some new potential recruits,” said Yau.
“We've never achieved what we have done in 2015 and we have got the model right, leading to success through the whole club.”
Yau said the new, £80,000 outdoor practice area at the Recreation Ground made a difference to the club’s fortunes last year.
“Our new facility has had a big impact in helping us to achieve our goals and the strength in depth and competition in places in all our sides has driven players on,” said Yau.
Torquay picked up their divisional trophies at the league’s annual meeting in Exeter recently, where Petherbridge was named young player of the year.
One or two eyes were raised when Petherbridge left Cornwood for Torquay in the last close season. His father and grandfather had played for the club, as did brother Luke.
Yau said he could see potential in Petherbridge from the start and had no qualms about thrusting the then 15 year old into the Torquay 1st XI
“I know many people thought Matt couldn't cut it in the Premier Division, but I liked what I saw immediately and having played enough cricket knew that he would cause problems at this level,” said Yau.
“He has a great attitude, understands his game, had a brilliant temperament and thoroughly deserves the accolade of young cricketer of the year.
“Matt is the classic example of someone who doesn't over complicate things, does what he is told and is a dream to captain.
“We got our fields right for him and he's gone from a 2nd XI player into a full county player in one year.
“I think that in itself is a superb microcosm of his progression as a cricketer this year.
There are not many 15-year-old lads in the country who would take 33 wickets in the top division in their county. We are very lucky to have him.”
Ben Williams’ transfer from Lewdown is going through and Torquay expect the formalities to be completed shortly. Left-arm pacer Williams played twice for Devon in the Minor Counties Championship last season.
Definitely on board for 2016 is early order batsman Reid Mawdsley, a Devon youth graduate who has been performing for the Lions.
Mawdsley has been playing for Chard in the West of England Premier Division, having joined them from Seaton in 2013.
A house move makes Torquay and attractive proposition for Mawdsley this summer.
Torquay have also signed wicketkeeper George Allen, who has moved to the area from the Midlands.
Allen, who played youth cricket for Warwickshire at under-15 and under-17 level, has had two years’ Premier cricket experience with Walmley in the Birmingham League.