Devon Cricket Board - B Division - Tavvy closing in on promotion

B Division - Tavvy closing in on promotion

TAVISTOCK can take a big step closer to winning promotion by killing off Ivybridge once and for all.
The Moorlanders top the table by 28 points from Thorverton (176pts) with Bideford (175) and Ivybridge (173) trailing behind.
Beat Ivybridge and that’s their race run for another season.
“Get a win and that's a real stamp on a promotion spot,” said Tavvy skipper Shaun Daymond.
“It will be a very tough game but if we play like we did last week against Bideford we have a good chance of taking big points.”
Jamie Stephens missing this week so brother Josh comes in.
Ivybridge, who slipped up at Thorverton last time out, are without Josh Zimmerman and Jimmy Bullock (weddings) and Gareth Andrews (Injured back again fielding) Charlie Horwood out for season.
In come Paul Veale , Des Solomon and Chris Greenhouse.
Rob Collier returns to the Braunton side for the visit of second-placed Thorverton.
He replaces the unavailable Alex Hogdges.
Jon Baglow skippers the side in the continuing absence of Ian Roberts, whose knee is still sore after surgery.
“If we can take our positive attitude from the win over Stoke Gabriel into this week, then I think we will give Thorverton a lot better game than we did at their place,” said Roberts.
Thorverton are without the Crouch brothers and Will Denford, but have Nick Barton back and give a debut to seamer Christian Cabburn, who is highly rated by skipper Graham White.
“We are naturally keen to win again and maintain the second promotion spot,” said White, matter of factly.
Bideford will be unchanged against Axminster as they look to bounce back after two successive defeats.
Axminster won a thriller in the last over at Barnstaple last time out, but skipper Tristan Wakeley has been forced to make changes.
“We have a weaker team than the one that travelled to Barnstaple last week,” sid Wakeley.
“After that result we feel we are safe from relegation, and pushing for promotion is not an aim this year, so we can relax more and enjoy the remainder of the season.
“Bideford are obviously pushing for that runners-up spot, so they will be up for the game, but that also means there's greater pressure on them.”
Plymstock, hoping to make a late promotion push after three successive wins, entertain a Barnstaple side trying hard to get out of the bottom two.
“We are looking to keep pushing on and maintaining the high standards we have found in the second half of the season,” said Plymstock captain James Nicholls.
“If our batting continues to fire I am more than confident our bowling will carry on winning us games.
“We won and Shobrooke against a very good team and take confidence from this going into the weekend.
“We know Barnstaple have match winners as they beat us at their place and they will be very tough as they are fighting to stay in the league so we will again have to improve.
“We won without our overseas last week which shows our depth.”
Overseas Dean Fulco is available this week after recovering from a broken finger and josh hocken comes in for Adam O’Brien, who is going to keep for the twos who are also pushing for promotion.”
Barnstaple skipper Steve Moore knows the 24-point gap between his side and safety is going to take some wiping out, but he is up for the challenge.
“We know we need to perform to our maximum ability in our last five games to avoid going down,” said Moore.
“I believe in the ability of our players, hopefully we can turn our season around.”
James Russell replaces Andrew Barton otherwise unchanged side.
“Jack Popham will have fitness test, before deciding if he will be fit to bowl.”

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