- 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
ALPHINGTON skipper Stuart Shaw is looking to sign-off on a high in 2016 by leading the side to promotion back into the B Division.
Shaw (pictured), who took over from Paul James in 2009, has announced he will be stepping down at the end of the current campaign.
The Alphas just missed out on the promotion play-offs last season, finishing third in the C Division East, 11 points behind Uplyme & Lyme Regis in second place.
Curiously, Alphington find themselves in a new division this season as they have been level-transferred into the C Division West.
The move was necessary as to ensure 10 clubs in each regional division after last season’s promotion and relegation issues were sorted out.
The opposition may be different - Plymouth Civil Service and Babbacombe replace Seaton and Clyst Hydon on the fixture list – but the aim remains the same.
Alphington dropped out of the B Division in 2013 and Shaw would like his last act as captain to be getting them back there.
“We should have made the play-offs last season, but were a bit to casual in the last five or six weeks, thinking it would just happen for us and it didn’t,” said Shaw.
“This is definitely my last year as 1st XI skipper and probably my last season in the 1st XI.
“I have a son who will be old enough for the 2nd XI soon and I would like to play some cricket with him before I finish.
“If we can get the commitment needed from the players this season we should be there or thereabouts.
“We were almost good enough last season and it won’t take much more to make it into the top two, where we want to be.”
Shaw said he is looking for most of the 1st XI squad to be available for a minimum of 14 of the 18 games, which should improve consistency no end.
A big bonus for Alphington will be the improved availability of former captain and off-spinner James, who only played nine games last season.
“Paul still managed to top the league bowling averages with 21 wickets at around 10 runs each – imagine what he could do playing 14 or 15 games,” said Shaw.
South African paceman Ashley Green, who was the leading wicket taker with 30 and finished fourth in the league aggregates is back for a second season.
“He struggled a bit with our conditions at first, which is understandable, but with a season under his belt I think we will see a more consistent Ashley Green this summer,” said Shaw.
Bowling all-rounder Tom Bath is staying put despite mid-winter rumours linking him to B Division new boys Ottery St Mary.
New to the Chronicles this summer are the Halse brothers – Mark and Nick – who have had plenty of previous league experience with Chudleigh, South Devon and Abbotskerswell.
Early-order batter Mark Halse has been brought in as player-coach with a brief to work with the senior sides and the colts.
Nick (pictured, left), a former England Students rugby player, is a keeper-batsman with a good eye who hits a long ball.