Devon Cricket Board - A Division - Tipper warns complacent players

EXETER skipper Jon Tipper has reminded his players they haven’t won anything yet ahead of the game against second-placed Plympton at Harewood House.
Tipper’s table-toppers – try saying that have you’ve had a few – struggled to overcome relegation worriers Shobrooke Park last time out.
They may be 45 points clear of Plympton at the top of the table, but Tipper says there is no room for complacency if Exeter want to return to the top flight as champions.
“Batting, bowling and fielding – everything has to be better,” said Tipper.
“No slight intended on Shobrooke Park, who played far better than a side in the bottom two, but Plympton are going to be a tougher proposition in every way.
“Nothing less than hard work will ensure we come away with the positive result we need.”
The game is the first of two which Plympton skipper Andy Walter sees as vital to clinching promotion back to the Premier at the first attempt.
“Exeter and Cornwood (4th) on successive Saturdays – that’s two big games,” said Walter.
Exeter are a strong team and, as I've said before, we need our A game straight from ball one.
Last week we gave Plymstock an 18-over head start, but managed to pull it back. Tomorrow we won't get that chance.
“Also, we still need to value our wickets more. The whole top five or six are capable of scoring 50 plus, but no one is doing it.”
Alex Bosomworth comes in for Mike Wilkinson at the top of the order in the only change of Exeter personnel.
Plympton’s only change is Dave Wrench for Duncan Hefford.
CORNWOOD meet Plymstock in a derby clash anxious to get back on course after their defeat at Paignton.
Catching Plympton is still possible, but the last few weeks have been a wake-up call for skipper Craig Harris and his team-mates.
“Over the past few weeks our ambitions of becoming a Premier team have been well and truly put under the test,” said Harris.
“Having played Exeter in the league, Sidmouth in the Devon Cup, Plymouth in our regional T20 and Paignton in the league we have woken uip to the fact that good cricket needs to be played consistently,” said Harris.
“The start that we had in the league this year was great, but last week’s game against Paington was the perfect example of how complacency can affect results when we replay fixtures.
“Earlier in the year Paignton were a different side and we beat them at our place. Last weekend they were bullish and their standard was much higher than previous.
“We are far from out of the promotion race as we are only a few points behind Plympton in second.
“As the other teams in the top four need to play each other, it is down to us to keep raising our game and playing good cricket until the end of the season.
“Now is a great time to put together a charge to the end of the season and bring back some of the momentum that carried us so well before.
“Plymstock will be a tough challenge – they want the points as much as us - so we will need to be on our game to get out there and get the job done.”
Plymstock are without Seb Jordan – holidaying in Sweden – so call up Steve Coomer, who caressed a calm 70 in the 2^nd XI last Saturday.
PAIGNTON, away to Abbotskerswell, name the same side that went third in the table by beating Cornwood.
“We are delighted to have got ourselves in the position of pushing for promotion - now it is up to us how much we want it,” said skipper Andy Kindgon.
“The boys are hungry and ready to work hard for the remainder of the season.”
There is likely to be some needle in the game as Paignton now have four players who started the season with Abbots: Kelmere, Allen, Shergold and Ashworth.
Abbots skipper Richard Lake is saying little ahead of the game, other than: “We will be full of good spirit and looking to play positive cricket.”
Braunton go to Shobrooke Park in need of a pick-me-up after losing to Brixham.
“We again had spells of good cricket against Brixham, but it was a disappointing result,” said skipper Jon Baglow.
“The next two games - Shobrooke Park and South Devon - are important games for us to get back some sort of form and momentum.”
Dom Bracher returns to the Braunton side after a holiday.
The pressure is on Shobrooke to get a result as they are 34 points adrift in the drop zone already.
“This is an important game for us we had a good result against them in the first half, but expect they will want to turn this around,” said skipper Justin Dollow.
“I expect a tough and close contest but we will be looking for maximum points.”
The pressure is on bottom side South Devon, who managed to avoid defeat for the first time this season against Abbotskerswell last Saturday.
They go to Brixham with skipper Adrian Hewings hoping the winning draw with Abbots is a springboard up the table.
“Looking to push on from last week’s positive performance, but Brixham will be looking for something more than not losing, given their position in the promotion mix.
“We put in a decent performance against them first time around so looking forward to a competitive game.”
Batsman Paul Hooper is not available.