Devon Cricket Board - Premier - Bovey wary of Sandford bowling

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PREMIER DIVISION
BOVEY Tracey captain Peter Bradey is reading little or nothing into the sizeable gap between his top-of-the-table side and Sandford.
There are 49 points between Bovey and Sandford, who are sixth out of ten in the division just 12 points clear of the bottom two.
Bradley has been doing his homework though and says there are plenty of reasons to be wary of Sandford.
“Look in the bowling stats and Sandford have two of the top five wicket-takers in our division – Matt Theedom and Simon Ashplant,” said Bradley.
“In Neil Bettis and Theedom they have two batsmen who can change a game very quickly and take it away from you.
“I am surprised Sandford aren’t a bit higher in the table as they are team you can’t relax against for a second.”
Sandford skipper Theedom said if his team could bat as well as the bowl, Bradley may be right.
“Russ Discombe (202) is the only one of our batsmen in the top 20 and it is about time a few more started chipping in with some runs,” said Theedom.
Theedom believes the new format in the Premier Division this season – win-lose cricket with no draws – has led to a polarisation of the teams.
With half a season to go there is a clear gap between the top five and the rest, which Theedom does not think will change.
“It is 17 points now and is only going to get wider,” said Theedom.
“What you know have are two separate competitions: the top five jostling for the title and the bottom five all hoping they can do enough to stay out of the bottom two.”
EXMOUTH will be saying farewell to West Indian star Akeal Hossein after tomorrow’s home game against Bradninch.
The spin-bowling all-rounder has to join up with the West Indies party for the U19 World Cup preparing for the tournament in Australia.
Hossein will be missed in the second half of the season, although Exmouth skipper Richard Baggs is confident his second-placed side can maintain their title challenge without him.
“Our league form is good – we have won ever game we have finished since the third week of the season – and lots of different players are getting runs and wickets,” said Baggs.
“Akeal has played a useful part up til now, particularly with his bowling in the middle of the innings, but I hope we have enough quality in the ranks to carry on without him.”
Exmouth have only lost twice this season and one of those defeats was against Bradninch in day one.
Bradninch captain Gary Chappell is the first to admit the rematch will be a challenge.
“This is going to be a different proposition,” said Chappell. “Exmouth look very strong at the moment, particularly in their batting.
“We need to play our best cricket if we're going to come away with a win, but we've played some excellent cricket this year and there’s no reason why we can’t upset the Maer faithful.
“We need a win on to stay in touch with Exmouth and Bovey. I can’t see them slipping up much in the second half of the season the way they’ve been playing so if we lose we may find ourselves a bit far behind.”
Keeper-batter Paul Tweddle is unavailable, Tim Piper will keep and Paul Nott comes into the side as an extra bowler.
TORQUAY go to Plymouth uncomfortably aware of the consequences should they lose.
Last season’s unbeaten A Division champions have found the return to Premier cricket a difficult transition with only three wins in eight completed games.
Torquay are one off the bottom of the table, but will drop into the relegation danger area if Budleigh Satlerton win the basement battle at Heathcoat and they lose at Mount Wise.
The importance of the game is not lost on Torquay captain Justin Yau, who said: “It is a huge game ahead of us and we are at a stage where we need to string some results together.
“Plymouth will be desperate for revenge after we outplayed them at our place and this is arguably our biggest game this season.
“Win and it could propel us to mid table. Lose and we are in the relegation zone! It's as simple as that.
“We have our premiership status to play for which has upped the stakes.”
Torquay have as many or more bowling points as three of the teams above them, but are struggling for runs.
“We need more runs- simple as that,” said Yau.
“Our bowling has been decent and our fielding ok, but we need to learn how to construct and build innings again.”
Torquay have doubts over veteran seamer Ian Baker, but are hopefully he will be fit to play.
Plymouth, rained off against Budleigh last Saturday, go to the Recreation Ground in confident mood.
“Everyone is looking forward to getting out and playing against after a week off,” said skipper Callum Whittaker, who reports a full-strength squad to pick from.
“Touch wood the weather is kind to us.
“It's a pretty important game and if we perform as we have done in recent weeks we will give ourselves every chance on getting the thick end of the points.”
NORTH Devon, at home to Sidmouth, are looking for more of the form which swept them to victory at Torquay.
With another poor weather forecast, winning the toss is going to be vital.
Skipper Matt Dart isn’t too worried about the weather though, adding: “You can’t do anything about the weather and as long as we play the way we have been I will be happy.”
There is a bit more oomph in the upper order with Rob Gear and Tom Ansell back to bolster it.
BUDLEIGH Salterton and Heathcoat meet in a must-win game for both of them, at Knigtshayes.
Heathcoat are already 40 points adrift of safety and there is a real danger they could be doomed to the drop by the end of July.
Budleigh are the team immediately above Heathcoat and need to make up six points on Torquay to get out of trouble.
Team news from the Budleigh camp is that Neil Murrin comes in to do a steadying job in the batting line up.
Heathcoat are without holidaying skipper Chris Small so Sam Smith takes over the helm.