- South Dartmoor back to winning ways in cups
- Tom Allin tournament raised more than £5,000 for air ambulance
- Taverners kit bag delivered to Sri Lankan youngsters
- Devon trying to contact the class of 56
- Paceman Tshepo running in Virgin London Marathon
- Five Devon women in Western Storm squad for Kia Super League
- Registration night for all ages at Topsham on Monday
- Lots pouring in for auction at Allin Memorial tournament
- Thames Valley Gentlemen Cricket Club
- Bradninch add Argentinian flavour to Devon League
- Ipplepen youth registration night on Friday
- Final call for Groundsmans first seminar this year
- Devon League official tackling London Marathon for charity
- Bovey on familiar territory in Aaron Printers Cup
- Brockman Cup - Cup Kings lie in wait for holders
- Shepherd Trust helps Kingsbridge build for sustainable future
- DCL - Umpire Appointments 2016 (May 7th - July 2nd)
- Long standing records beaten
- North Devon see off Paignton chase
BUDLEIGH Salterton embark on a new season determined to put the horrors of 2012 behind them and concentrate on playing cricket – however they have got off to a bad start!
Everyone suffered because of bad weather last season, but nowhere was it as bad as Budleigh.
The low-lying ground near the sea-front flooded during the worst of the summer storms and was out of action entirely for the second half of the season.
Budleigh were able to play on the University of Exeter ground at Topsham in the latter part of the season – and scraped together enough points to steer clear of the bottom two. The 2nd XI were not so fortunate and went down.
The Otters’ big investment during the winter has been £40,000 in improved drainage and new turf on large parts of the ground.
Sadly, the lack of rain over the past few weeks has meant the new turves have not knitted in – and it is back to Topsham on Saturday for the curtain-raiser against Cornwood.
Skipper Joel Murphy hopes it won’t be long before Ottermouth is spot on again and he is leading a team to match the surroundings.
Ottermouth now looks spot on and the challenge facing skipper Joel Murphy is to ensure the cricket matches the surroundings.
“You cannot imagine what it is like to lose your ground for virtually and entire season and be effectively homeless,” said Murphy.
“Everything goes – including the social side and the revenue it generates – and it says a lot for the club that we have been able to come through the other side intact.
“The work on the ground has made a massive difference. Now we can get on with playing some cricket.”
Murphy is making no predictions for the season ahead, other than a vague: “I feel the 1st XI will be competitive.”
On paper Budleigh look a strong batting side, headed up by former Gloucestershire player and Devon captain Bob Dawson and current Devon batter James Burke.
Sebastian Langridge, a Kiwi keeper-batter, adds a bit of extra depth, as does the arrival of Matt Kidd from Bovey. Kidd bowls seam-up pretty sharpish and knows which way round to hold a bat.
Bowling wise Budleigh have probably lost Charlie Morris, whose commitments with Oxford Brookes University and Worcestershire are unlikely to permit Devon League cricket.
However, Burke has come back from a winter in Cape Town bowling quickly again after several years struggling with a back problem.
Said Murphy: “Having James bowling a full tilt again is like having a new player in the side.”
Budleigh look well equipped to steer clear of trouble this season – weather permitting. Anything better will depend on the younger bowlers in the camp, Matt Plowman and Lloyd Murrin for example, continuing to improve and keeping their spells tight.