Cornwood upbeat for season ahead
 

CAPTAINS ALL: Left to right are Cornwood’s captains for the season ahead. James Horgan (2nd XI), Dave Petherbridge (3rd XI), Barrie Fitzpatrick (4th XI), Jason Hall (1st) and Sunday captain Charles Knight

CORNWOOD start their second season back in the Premier Division with a home match against newly promoted Sandford next Saturday.

Hard hitting batsman Jackson Thompson has joined from Bradninch. He took the Premier Division by storm last season with some magnificent batting displays, including a Premier Division record score of 222 against Budleigh Salterton.

Cornwood captain Jason Hall is confident Thompson will have a significant impact at the early stages of the innings and take the pressure off other top-order batsmen.

Also joining Cornwood as their overseas player is South African Byron Langley, who impressed last season against his new club while on tour with Futura Sports from the Durban area

“He showed control swinging the new ball and will be an excellent addition to our attack, as well as offer a further batting option in the middle order,” said chairman of selectors Nick Goodliffe.

Cornwood are boosted by the return of Craig Harris, who missed most of last season after suffering a dislocated shoulder.

“In many ways this will be like having another new player joining the squad,” said Goodliffe.

“We have also had a few other new signings, which we hope will help to provide some healthy competition for places in both the 1stand 2nd XI teams.

Steve Lambert, a county age-group player, is returning to cricket after several summers out of the game and has been ever present at pre-season training.

Tom Ford, who has played 2nd XI Premier cricket in the Surrey League, has moved to the area and joined the club.

“We are hopeful his swing bowling will be particularly effective on the Cornwood track,” said Goodliffe.

Cornwood likes to give youth a chance and all four Devon League captains will be keen to promote young players coming through the colts section.

Last season saw Matt Skeemer, then only 16, break into the 1st XI and keep his place with some impressive performances with bat and ball.

There have been no departures of any significance, other than keepr-batter Mark Horwell taking a break to spend more time with his young family.

“Cornwood is very much a family club, and we understand there are times when a player’s family has to take priority,” said Goodliffe.

Cornwood are lucky that ex-Devon keeper Duncan Boase, who has hundreds of Premier games under his belt with Plymouth, Bovey Tracey and Cornwood, is willing to stand in.

Boase, at 47, will be the oldest player in the Premier Division when the action starts.

 

 

DCB Ltd, University of Exeter Sports Hall, Stocker Road, Exeter, Devon EX4 4QN Company Registration Number: 7024773

all content © Devon Cricket Board Ltd 2024    |    page edited by: conrad.sutcliffe@devoncricket.co.uk    updated: 01/05/2014   |