Devon Cricket Board - Premier Division - Title race wide open says Bradley

Premier Division - Title race wide open says Bradley

BOVEY Tracey skipper Peter Bradley believes defeat against Exmouth in the top-of-the table clash won’t spell the end for his side’s title chances.
Defeat by Torquay last time out cost Bovey the leadership and dropped them down from top to second.
Sidmouth beat Budleigh Salterton by three runs while Exmouth dipped from second to third after an eight-wicket reverse at Heathcoat.
Only eight points separate all three teams, so there is everything to play for in the last three games.
“We are at the stage of the season where everyone is beating everyone – look at Heahcoat – and results are unpredictable,” said Bradley.
“I know Exmouth see the game as do-or-die, but I don’t think so.
“Even if we lose – and we need to graft a lot more than we did against Torquay if we want to win – there is still a chance we could win the league.”
Lewis Hammett keeps wicket in place of the unavailable Ben Ayres.
Bradley knows Sidmouth and Budleigh have to meet on the last day of the season – and only one of them can win, which may have a bearing on his thinking.
Unchanged Exmouth need a win after losing three of the last four starts.
Skipper Richard Baggs says the title race it the tightest he can ever remember, but he knows who he is tipping.
Said Baggs: “I think the three teams are very even so impossible to call it, however Sidmouth are in driving seat so they are favourites
Elsewhere in the Premier Division, bottom side Sandford are at home to North Devon.
`Heathcoat skipper Chris Small is going for a fifth straight win against Plymouth tomorrow as the comeback team of the season continue to defy the oods.
Four games ago Heathcoat were 40 points adrift of safety at the bottom of the Premier Division and looking like racing certainties to meet the relegation reaper this season.
Then Heathcoat started winning. Sandford were beaten, so were North Devon and Torquay then title chasers Exmouth fell by the wayside.
Four wins later Heathcoat are seven points from safety and if they win tomorrow, and Budleigh slip up at Torquay, Small’s team will be out of the bottom two.
That would be quite a turnaround and to do it Heathcoat need to keep doing more of the same.
“We need to keep playing the attacking and aggressive brand of cricket that has allowed us to win the last four games,” said Small.
“Play this cricket for the remaining three games, even against very tough opponents, and I think we will do enough to stay up.”
Plymouth captain Chris Barr has set his side the target of finishing third. While he respects Heathcoat’s recent run he is focused on his own aims.
“Heathcoat have won their last few games and have everything to play for so we are expecting a really tough game,” said Barr.
“However we also have our goal of finishing in the top three so we won't give anything away easy.”
Pasi Mawalage and Andy Birkett are both unavailable so Harry Stephenson and Henry Bennett come in.
Torquay and Budleigh Satlerton clash on the Recreation Ground in a game both need to win in the unending struggle to get away from the relegation zone.
Budleigh are seven points ahead of Heathcoat, who occupy the second relegation place. Torquay are eight points ahead of Budlleigh.
“It’s a must-win for us after losing to Sidmouth last Saturday when we should have beaten them,” said Budleigh skipper Joel Murphy.
“ Bob Dawson and Lloyd Murrin didn’t play last Saturday, but with both of them back we are at full strength.”
Torquay skipper Justin Yau is a little more relaxed than Murphy – and not just because he has been on holiday in Barcelona all week.
Yau has looked at the fixtures – Heathcoat finish with Sidmouth (top) and Bovey (3rd) and believes one more win will be enough, although he added a note of caution “
The Premier is so tight his year there are no guarantees in results.
“Everyone is beating each other and we need to pick up as many points as we can in the final three games.”

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