Devon Cricket Board - A Division - Top two clash at Cornwood

EXETER skipper Jon Tipper said he has a healthy respect for promotion rivals Cornwood ahead of tomorrow’s top of the table clash at Oak Park.
Only four points separate leaders Exeter from the second-placed Corns, who have won one more game so far.
Cornwood have flattered to deceive a time or two over the past few seasons, looking the part but not delivering.
Tipper has been keeping a close eye on them this term and believes the Corns are serious promotion candidates.
“Cornwood always look like a threatening club, but too often didn’t seem to have the batting to see it through,” said Tipper.
“Clearly that isn’t the case this season as they seem to have someone scoring runs every week.
“Mohammad Salman is definitely a quality player – you don’t play for Pakistani otherwise – but it isn’t just him scoring runs.
“Look through the scores every week and you see other names apart from Salman. There is a lot of quality in the Cornwood side and we will have to play at our very best this week.”
The mutual admiration isn’t confined to Tipper as opposite number Craig Harris has been weighing up Exeter.
“Exeter have started well this season, but so have we, and arguably this is the game to watch of the first-round of matches,” said Harris.
“We know they have good players, a good record and are willing to talk of their desire to win the league.
“However this is the game we have been building to as well. we have a full squad available, have been training well and are playing the game at home, where we have not played Exeter for many seasons.
“Last year the home game of this tie was rained off and the game played at Exeter was marred by a poor batting performance from us.
“In a nutshell we want to give a fair representation of ourselves. We have been training well and the team morale is brilliant.
“This is worth nothing if we ease off the gas now. Anything positive out of this result puts us in the driving seat, for what could be an exciting last round of matches.
Cornwood’s team news is that Robin Dart makes way for the available Mike Wood.
Exeter are boosted by the return of Blundell’s teachers Andy Mead and Rob Holman, whose availability is always patchy up to the halfway stage in the season.
ABBOTSKERSWELL skipper Richard Lake wants to put an eventful week to bed by beating Brixham.
Abbots have been hit by a mass exodus during the week as Rob Shergold, Richard Ashworh and Chris Kelmere have returned to former club Paignton – and taken opening bowler Phil Allen with them.
With resources stretched by the departures, it hasn’t helped that Gary Day has decided to join ambitious E Division side Shaldon Optimists.
There isn’t much good news around, but the reappearance of former captain Steve Short after half a season in retirement, is a welcome boost.
Whatever caused the split at Two Mile Oak isn’t being bandied around in public, but there is no getting away from the effect.
Abbots have lost two wicket-taking bowlers in Kelmere and Shergold, decent batters in keeper Ashworth and Kelmere, and a quick bowler who can bat in Allen.
Day has mainly played 2nd XI cricket in recent seasons, but as three or four of them will be in the 1sts tomorrow he will be missed.
Skipper Lake is pragmatic enough to realise the second half of the season is not going to be easy. However, he remains upbeat.
“We are not far off 100 points, which is a decent start to the season,” said Lake.
“No one likes to lose players, but the ones we have are committed to the cause.
“It will be a challenge, but I feel we are capable of maintaining our position (5th) and even improving on it.”
Brixham arrive on the back of a narrow defeat by Plympton, but they remain third in the table.
Skipper Mark Orchard was a little scathing in his post-match summing up, something he now regrets.
“Having had time to reflect ion, I think I was a little negative.
“Craig Eaves put in a good performance with bat and ball and showed how good a cricketer he is,” said Orchard.
“If he can't get in the Devon Lions then Tim Western (coach) must have some out-of-this-world youngsters in his squad.
“Matt Stringfellow bowled well and carried on his wicket -taking form with the ball which was impressive.
“Would be good to go into the turn of season with a win. If we bat out our overs and bowl patiently we will put together a good performance and bounce back from last week.
“Joe Hyde showed how good a batter he is. He stood up and counted, which made me a happy captain.”
PAIGNTON will be aiming to put last Saturday’s nightmare at Exeter - all out for 66 and beaten by eight wickets – behind them when Braunton visit QP.
It has been a busy week on the transfer front as it’s not just the Abbots quartet who have signed on.
The much-travelled Vivek Kulkarni – Chelston, Bovey Tracey (twice), South Devon and now Paignton – has signed on as well.
Work commitments and other interests prevent Kulkarni playing as much as he or his former clubs would like.
Nevertheless, Paignton captain Andy Kingdon is delighted with Kulkarni and all his other acquisitions.
“As a captain I am delighted to have signed four young, very promising cricketers and hope this will help push us up the league and possibly compete for promotion,” said Kingdon.
“Vivek availability is not great, but his experience when he can play will be useful.
“There are exciting times ahead I hope, with such a young side, Paignton are moving in the right direction.”
It’s all very well looking forward, but Kingdon hasn’t forgotten what went wrong and why at Exeter.
“We need to bat in partnershipsand be prepared to dig in a bit more,” said Kingdon. “Braunton look like a good, settled side this year so another hard game looms.”
Braunton, who are hovering around mid-table, only got half a game in against Plymstock last time out.
“We struggled, like everyone has batting first on wet wickets, but recovered well and posted a decent total,” said skipper Jon Baglow.
“Different people are contributing each week so that helps as everyone is capable of doing a job for the team.
“We had something to bowl at and I was disappointed the rain came in.
“Paignton is always a tough place to visit and I don't remember coming away with a positive result from Queens Park, something we will be looking to change this weekend.”
Harry Booker returns to the side this week.

SOUTH Devon face a trip into the unknown when they go to Plympton.
The teams have not met since 1999 when Plympton were that summer’s A Division champions and were promoted into the top flight with their arch rivals Cornwood.
South Devon finished fifth that summer and if skipper Adrian Hewings had the benefit of a Tardis you can bet he would glady swap this season’s position for that one.
Eight games into the season South Devon have lost every game they have played and are 27 points adrift at the bottom.
Second team run getter Ian Shepherd is set for promotion as scoring them has been South Devon’s prime problem.
With Henry Burningham and Matt Coult both away, there will probably be room for Dan Ball and Jonty Parsons, who are both back from holiday.
Plympton have signed Harry Kandampully from Plymouth, but he doesn’t make the first team yet.
Pavi Mawalage, another recruit from Mount Wise, comes into the team for the unavailable J J Pfeiffer. Somerset’s Lewis Gregory has not been released so Duncan Hefford is restored to the team.
Having won at Brixham last time out, Plympton skipper Andy Walter is looking for a follow up.
“Playing South Devon this week we need to get a little run going,” said Walter.
“South Devon are struggling but we can't take them lightly. They are a team who could cause an upset.”
“ANOTHER mammoth journey, another rained off game! Plymstock are feeling the full wrath of god at the moment as He clearly wants to make us drown. “
“If only we had an Ark to play cricket on, but there’s not enough wood growing near Dean Cross to construct the vessel, and we don't know how well grass would grow on wood or where we'd keep all the insects,” mused Plymstock’s George Barnicott.
Barnicott returns to martial the seconds and Steve Coomer goes back into the ones after 50 for 2^nd XI last week.