Devon Cricket Board - Premier - Exmouth where Baggs wants to be

EXMOUTH should clinch the Premier Division title at Cornwood tomorrow – irrespective of the result.

Chasers Sidmouth, the only team left who can catch Exmouth, are 16 points behind with 22 left to play for.

Sidmouth need a 22-point maximum against relegated Budleigh Salterton – plausible - and for Exmmouth to slip up badly at Oak Park.

As Exmouth only need seven points it’s hard to see how they can mess it up now.

“We are where we wanted to be on the last day of the season – which is with it in our own hands,” said Baggs.

“We don’t have to rely on anyone else going out and doing us favours. If we win a game of cricket we win the league too.

“That was the massive thing about winning last week about beating North Devon. It meant there were no iffs or buts.”

If Exmouth win the title tomorrow it will give Baggs a tenth league champions medal to add to his collection.

“I was just 15 when I won the first one with Exmouth in 1990 and only played three or four games, but the senior players were kind enough to let me have one,” said Baggs.

“We won six in a row at Exmouth and I was still there in 1998 when we won it again. Exmouth did it again the following year, but I was with Budleigh Salterton by then.

“The Sandford team I was in won it twice, but that was a while ago.

“It is a lot of medals to have. I have been very fortunate over the years to play with some fine cricketers in very good sides.”

Exmouth under Baggs have already won the Devon KO Cup by beating Sidmouth last Sunday.

“Exmouth have never done the Devon double before and if I can be the first captain to bring it home I will be very proud,” said Baggs.

While Exmouth are playing for the title, Cornwood are looking for the handful of points that will keep them up.

Cornwood are 15 points clear of the drop zone and can only be caught by Bradninch if the East Devon outfit win big against Bovey and they lost heavily to Exmouth.

Cornwood’s 2nd XI are already relegated from Premier Two. The club don’t want the 1st XI to go the same way.

“We are looking forward to an exciting match against the potential league champions,” said Cornwood’s chairman of selectors Mike Hawkes.

“Both teams need vital points to be champions and in our case avoid relegation.

“With so much to play for Cornwood will continue to fight for every point and with their never-say-die attitude a hard-fought game to end the league season.

“It is hoped that by close of play the 1st XI can join in the celebrations with the 4th team who have gained promotion, as runners up.”

Skipper Jason Hall makes two changes to the side that went down at Plymouth.

In come wicket keeper-batsman Mark Horwell, who was unavailable last week, and pace bowler Andy Bees.

Bradninch take on Bovey hoping for the best but prepared for the worst.

Skipper Tim Piper will stress to his team they can still save themselves, but beating Bovey is part of the bargain.

Looking back over the season for the reasons Bradninch are where they are, Piper said the inability to close out games has a lot to do with it.

“The majority of the season has been very disappointing,” said Piper.

“There has been a lot of below-par performances, but perhaps more frustrating is the amount of times we have controlled a game, only to lose it in the last few overs.

“We are a better team than we have shown at times. This being said, the season is not over.

“The main goal of survival is still there. Unfortunately the odds are stacked against us and we are relying on other results.

“The most important thing for us is to perform well ourselves on Saturday.

“We can play without pressure in the hope of pulling off an end-of-season shock.

“Exmouth handing out a beating to Cornwood is also essential.

Exmouth are a very strong team and the pressure is on Cornwood to eek out those last few points.

“I am expecting Cornwood to lose, but it just depends how badly. We will have an eye on their game throughout the day.”

Bradninch are missing Greg Maher who heads home to Perth a week earlier than anticipated. James Street comes back in to replace him after being away on holiday.

PLYMOUTH have a couple of milestones they would like to knock off in the game away to Exeter.

“Marnus Labuschagne is very close to 700 runs for the season and Jake Luffman is near 500 - both great achievements - so we have our fingers crossed for them,” said Plymouth captain Matt Hooper.

The inter-city clash has little on it other than who finishes fifth in the final rankings.

However, Plymouth have a bit of revenge in mind.

“Our season was going well until we lost to them at home so we owe them one,” said Hooper.

“We have the added incentive that if we beat them then we will finish ahead of them in the league and in the top half.

“The aim has always been to finish in the top half or above in the league so it would be nice to finish with a win.”

Plymouth have a couple of players returning, Callum Whittaker and all-rounder Henry Bennett come in at the expense of John Kerridge and Harry Stephenson. We have a few players playing for individual targets as well.

NORTH Devon are looking forward to playing with no pressure on them in the final game of the season against Torquay.

“It’s the last game of the season and afterwards we will be spending the fines money accumulated so far,” said North Devon skipper Rob Ayre.

Torquay, also safe after beating Bradninch last Saturday, are relatively relaxed about the game.

They won’t be at full strength as Devon batsman Matt Thompson has started a new job – he misses his first game for five seasons – and Matt Hunt is dropped out.

Ben Francis and Mickey Wilkinson come in.

BUDLEIGH Salterton wind-up a disappointing campaign with a short trip along the coast to Sidmouth.

The last hope of staying up went west last Saturday when Budleigh were beaten by Exeter.

There’s nothing left to play for apart from pride – and improving a few reputations.

Skipper Joel Murphy said what has disappointed him most is how few of the players have contributed on a regular basis.

“It would be nice in our last game to play as well as we are able for once,” said Murphy.

“When you look at the season there is no one area we have struggled in all the time, apart from not putting the same team out two weeks in a row.

“If we bowl well, almost inevitably we bat badly – and vice-versa.

“In most games we have been there or thereabouts at some stage, but not been able to sustain it.

“Bob Dawson and James Burke have been outstanding all season batting, but that’s about it.

“I have been very disappointed that a number of our promising, younger players simply have not performed to the level required for Premier cricket.”

Murphy was reluctant to be drawn on what Burke will do next season following Budleigh’s demotion.

The Devon and Somerset 2^nd XI batsman will want to continue playing in the top flight – and left Sidmouth and Exmouth when they were demoted .

“It still surprises me that James is playing regular Saturday cricket at all and that he isn’t with a county somewhere,” said Murphy.

“I understand there is something on the table from Somerset next season already – and maybe another county will show an interest in him?

“In a perfect world James won’t be playing for anyone in the Devon League next season.”