Devon Cricket Board - B Division: Pressure on at bottom

B Division: Pressure on at bottom

B DIVISION

CHAGFORD skipper Del Lammonby said the pressure is on against Axminster tomorrow if his side are going to slip the relegation noose.

Chagford are one off the bottom of the pile and need to make up 15 points to get out of trouble.

Said Lammonby: “We need to pull a rabbit out of the hat and need to do it in a hurry.

“The good thing is our last three matches are all the teams around us – Dartington, Axminster and Clyst St George – and if we can win any of them it will have an impact on our situation.”

Batters Gary Sizmur and Henry Gordon-Lennox are missing, but ex-Devon player Jeremy Christophers is back in and Matt Bowes is promoted after runs in the 2nd XI.

Clyst St George entertain Chudleigh drinking in what skipper Matt Cook calls ‘the last-chance saloon.’

Clyst are 25 points away from safety and a run in of Chudleigh (3rd), Chagford (9th) and Thorverton (6th) is going to be a challenge.

Cook knows Clyst are where they are for a reason, but hasn’t given up all hope yet.

“Our second half of the season has been okay, but we lost the first seven in a row and that is what we are paying for,” said Cook.

Steve Bourke and Peter Weatherhead are back in the side, which gives Cook two more bowling options.

Thorverton, who appear to be safe, are at home to Dartington & Totnes.

Skipper Ally Fury is still a little hesitant talking about being safe as a couple of defeats could take them into Chaford’s orbit.

However, the return to bowling duty of fit-again Will Denford has improved the look of the side.

“Having Will fit to bowl has allowed us to play an extra batsmen which I think has been reflected if the improvement in our batting in the last few weeks,” said Fury.

“Will has been one of our leading bowlers over the previous two promotion seasons and to lose that, along with Nick Barton, for the majority of the season has affected the balance of our side.”

Elsewhere in the B Division, second-placed South Devon are away to leaders Plymstock.

It’s all rather intriguing at the top of the table where Plymstock (216pts), South Devon (200) and Chudleigh (191) are chasing two spots.

South Devon skipper David Knowles knows a defeat tomorrow could be costly as he expects Chudleigh to win all three of their remaining games – which are Clyst (A) Axminster (H) and Barnstaple (A).

“Plymstock away will be tough as they were good at our place, however after the game we felt we could have won,” said Knowles.

“Plymtock have had a couple poorer results - as we have – and a win for them will probablly win the league. A win for us would be our best result of the season.”

After a commanding victory over Dartington &Ttotnes last Saturday, Plymstock head into the game in fine form

All three teams at the top of the table have stuttered a bit in the second half of the season, but Plymstock have been able to pull out a 16-point lead over south Devon and a 25-point lead over third placed Chudleigh.

Team member Seb Jordan said: We could go into the game looking to be defensive and consolidate our position in the league, but that most definitely won't happen.

“That style of play does not suit us as a team- if we did that we'd end up creating potential banana skins

“We will play with our usual game plan. Play hard and look to win at every opportunity. If we go out with that attitude we can't go wrong!”

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