Devon Cricket Board - Premier previews - North Devon nearly there

PREMIER DIVISION

BOVEY Tracy will be in an odd position when they play Heathcoat tomorrow as talisman spinner Chris Bradley won’t be there.

Bradley has played in 146 consecutive matches for Bovey Tracey since the start of the 2003 season – and is the only survivor left of the squad which lifted the Devon Premier title back in 2002.

It has been a long season for Bradley as he has been Devon’s leading bowler in the Minor Counties Championship – 29 wickets in 167 overs – as well as getting through the overs for Bovey.

As Devon have a three-day game against Berkshire starting on Sunday, which will clinch the Western Division title if they win it, Bradley has asked brother and captain Peter for the afternoon off.

“Chris has gone down to Cornwall for some R and R at Polzeath and asked if we could do without him against Heathcoat,” said Peter.

“It is going to seem odd not having him in the side, but it is a chance for young spinner Jack Thomas to come up from the 2nd XI and show what he can do.”

Bovey are still chasing second spot behind champs in waiting North Devon, but for Heathcoat the game is all about survival.

They have three games in which to find 17 points to get past Plympton and stay ahead of them to avoid going down with Paignton.

“We need to take at least 15 points from this game if we have any chance of staying up,” said Heathcaot captain Liam Lewis.

“The final three games are all winnable, but it is time for the more experienced cricketers to put our hands up and put in a match-winning performance.”

Team news is Ned Menheneott is back in for Steve Harding and there will be some changes to the batting order.”

Noreth Devon travel to Plymouth tomorrow with a couple of uncertainties hanging over them as they seek to clinch the Premier Division title.

Second-placed Sidmouth are 40 points behind with 60 to play for – they have 20 up for grabs against relegated Paignton tomorrow - which means there are no guarantees North Devon will wrap up the title at Mount Wise.

Then there are the on-going problems of how much bowling North Devon will be allowed from their Somerset and England U19 twins Craig and Jamie Overton, whose contributions have gone ‘on the ration’.

With so many teams wanted a slice of the Overton’s, North Devon aren’t allowed to ‘over-bowl’ them, as cricket manager Gwynn Jones explained.

“We do not know what bowling restrictions will be placed on the Overton twins until we get a text, either from Somerset or ECB which makes the bowling game plan challenging,” said Jones.

On wrapping up the title Jones added: “We have a much harder game against Plymouth than Sidmouth have against Paignton, so the championship will be decided when we play Exmouth at home in the penultimate game of the season.”

Outgoing champions Sidmouth welcome relegated Paignton looking to finish the season on a high.

Leaders North Devon – 40 points ahead of second-placed Sidmouth with 60 points to play for – should wrap up the title sooner rather than later. If they don’t do it at Plymouth tomorrow, they will when Exmouth visit next Saturday.

Skipper Will Murray, who led Sidmouth (219pts) to a third successive title last season, would like to finish second if he can. Budleigh (217) and Bovey (206) are still in with a shout and Murray is looking to make the best of the Paignton game in the scrap to stay ahead of them.

“I want us to be as professional as we can right through to the end of the season,” said Murray.

“If we can’t win it we want to be second and if we want to be second we need to beat Paignton.

“We finish with Bovey and Plymouth, which will be decent games, so want as many points as we can get out off Paignton.”

Sidmouth will be unchanged against Paignton, which means no spot for Jamie Wardrop despite a ton in the 2nd XI against Budleigh last Saturday.

“It was very tempting to bring Jamie in, but it was decided to stick with Zac Bess and give him another opportunity to get some runs,” said Murray.

Paignton were condemned to relegation after losing by 10 wickets to Bovey Tracey last Saturday, although the club has known what was coming for a while.

Player coach Andy Kingdon, who hopes to return against Sidmouth after a three-month injury lay off, said dropping down a level may not be a bad thing.

“It’s a season to forget really,” said Kingdon. “The league is so strong this year and we just can't compete at the moment.

“Currently we are an A Division club and have a lot of work to do before we will be good enough to compete in the Premier.

“We are a young side and in a few years from now I have no doubt we will be a good Premier Division side.

“The lads have all stuck together this season and hopefully we will come back stronger next year.

“Sidmouth have a fantastic side and are a great example to everyone of how a good youth set up can produce quality players.

“We will have to play extremely well to get anything from the game.”

Bradninch have an early opportunity to get revenge over Exmouth for the Devon T20 Cup final defeat at Cornwood on Sunday when the two sides meet again on the Maer in the league.

Bradninch skipper Gary Chappell has moved on from Sunday’s four-run defeat by Exmouth – and so has star batsman Brad Cachopa.

Cachopa, who had gone through 400 runs in the league for Bradninch, has returned home to New Zealand where he is required by Auckland for a looming tournament.

Former Exeter batsman James Street is back from holiday and returns to the side, which is otherwise the same one which drew with Plymouth last Saturday.

Bradninch are only 25 points clear of the drop slots with three games to go and Chappell wants revenge over Exmouth for purely practical reasons.

“If Heathcoat beat Bovey Tracey and we don’t win, there is a danger of getting sucked back into it,” Chappell.

“With Brad gone there are a few runs to find and what’s needed is for the top-order batters to start turning 20s and 30s into 70s and 80s.”

Beating Bradninch in the T20 final proved a mixed blessing for Exmouth as they qualified for the west final being played in St Just, Cornwall on Sunday.

The final clashes with a Devon game – which rules out David Lye and Trevor Anning – while Anthony Radunovic can’t play as he is an overseas player, all of whom are banned under ECB rules.

“It’s out hardest game of the season and we have to put out our weakest side,” said Exmouth’s angry captain Richard Baggs.

ELSEWHERE in the Premier Division tomorrow, Budleigh Salterton are away to Plympton.