England batter Knight in Plymstock side against Tavvy

AXMINSTER will be paying tributes to former player Ryan Walker before tomorrow’s 1st XI game against Thorverton and the 2nd XI match against Kingsbridge.

The 24-year-old player and coach died suddenly earlier this week, prompting an flood of emotional tributes from friends, team-mates and rivals alike.

Although Ryan was no longer playing for Axminster – he has moved to rivals Seaton – he remained a popular figure and welcome visitor at Cloakham Lawn.

Axminster are holding an open commemoration at Cloakham from 11am on Saturday. Anyone is welcome to come down and share a story, memory or tribute to Ryan. This will be followed by a two-minute silence.

Both teams will be wearing black armbands during their respective league matches, and plan to hold a minute’s silence before they start.

In the evening there will be celbration of Ryan’s life with a gathering at Cloakham.

Tristan Wakeley, the Axminster captain, said : “The response and support from other local clubs and the team Ryan played with in New Zealand has been incredible and pays tribute to the wonderful person he was.

“Silences have already taken place between Uplyme and Honiton and Chard versus Thorncombe.”

Thorverton have Jake and Harry Choules and Gill Crouch away, but have Nick Barton, George Greed and James Hope to come in so won’t be any weaker.

“Most things went against us last week at Barnstaple so looking to get a win on what should be a good deck at home tomorrow,” said skipper Graham White.

 

ENGLAND’S Heather Knight will be batting for Plymstock tomorrow in the derby clash with Tavistock.

Plymstock are hugely proud of their Ashes winner and England tourist, who stays close to her home town club even though she lives near London now.

Tavistock are going great guns at the top of the table, so Plymstock are glad of some extra firepower.

“Heather is down for the weekend doing a fund-raiser and playing a testimonial T20 on Sunday at Dean Cross, so she is available on Saturday.

It's great for the club to have her around and it shows how much Plymstock still means to her.

“We are all very proud of her achievements and it will be great to have her around the team and club this weekend..”

Mike Blackmore and Tom teWhare go into the 2nd XI and coming in are Heather and Scott Mansfield

On Tavistock, Nichols said: “This week we have our toughest test yet, but as we all know a local derby adds extra spice to a game of cricket..

“We know they have played good consistent cricket and we will have to improve but we go into every game believing we will win.

“Our bowling is good enough to win us games and a few more runs from our batters should put us in a good position..

“Everyone wants to play the best teams and we want to be the team that ends their winning run.”

 

STOKE Gabriel welcome back former captain Dave Bolland for the meeting with Bideford.

Bolland is a proper all-rounder and skipper Jack Tolley hopes he will give the team a lift.

We have got a young side out again and are looking for another good fielding and bowling display - minus the wides - but need to improve our batting having been blown away last week by Ivybridge,” said Tolley.

Ivybridge go to Shobrooke, which skipper Gareth Andrews said will be a tough one.

Adam Huxtable cames in for Charlie Horwood( broken ankle).

For Bideford, Alex Wood replaces the holdaying Matt Allin.

Devon U15 all-rounder Alex Hannam comes back in after two weeks away . Mike Lemmings drops to the 2nd XI.

“We know Stoke are struggling, but will approach the game the same as every week as we can’t afford any slip ups,” said captain James Ford.

 

BRAUNTON welcome back Chris Needham and Dave Cresswell for the derby date with Barnstaple at Kelsey.

But skipper Ian Roberts will be out for at least one more week while recovering from knee surgery.

Jon Baglow again leads the side and is looking for a win to push his side closer to the top than the bottom.

“We know each other well so there will be no surprises and it will be a tough derby game,” said Baglow.

“We have a lead of 32 points over Barnstaple in the bottom two and would like to extend that.

Looking up the table, another 30 points would take us to third.”

Barnstaple bring in youngsters Jack Moore and James Russell for James Thomas and Mark Metters, who are both unavailable.

 

 


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