Devon Cricket Board - Sidmouth skipper not complacent about 37-point lead

SIDMOUTH skipper Will Murray insists it is important not to let the side’s lead at the top of the table go to their heads.
Rival captain Richard Baggs of second-placed Exmouth has surveyed the 38-point gap between the teams at the top and declared: “It’s Sidmouth’s to lose.”
Murray doesn’t disagree, but the knows the minute Sidmouth think it is all over is when they are at their most vulnerable.
“We are in an enviable position halfway through the season of being so far ahead, but have to keep focused on winning,” said Murray (left)
“It would only take a couple of defeats on our part for Exmouth to close the gap right up on us.
“You can’t take anything for granted. We’ve got Bovey Tracey next and in Lake and Roberts the have the two leading wicket-takers in the Premier Division.
“That just shows there are no easy games in Premier cricket.”
Sidmouth are still without Luke Bess who has a broken foot. Will Sobczak returns after a weekend off.
Bovey will be unchanged for what skipper Andy Fairbairn described as: “The toughest game of our season.”
He added: “Sidmouth are on fire at the moment and with several of their players on top form it will be a great challenge.
“That said we've got several match winners and I'll be looking for them to step up and put in some big performances.”
EXMOUTH entertain third-bottom Heathcoat anxious not to let the gap between them and Sidmouth get any wider.
Baggs has already made his views known on Sidmouth’s title prospects, but isn’t about to surrender hopes of retaining the crown Exmouth won last year.
“If Sidmouth carry on playing the way they are then can't see them losing it, but funny things happen and you never know.
“All we need to do is win our games and if, at the end of the season, that isn't enough then fair play to Sidmouth.”
Jamie Tapper, Matt Coult and Laurence Greenway are all back in. Seb Benton is at a wedding.
SANDFORD can do their prospects of dodging the drop some good by beating bottom side Cornwood.
The Corns (54pts) are the only team below Sandford (63), who have to catch Heathcoat (71) to get out of trouble.
Both teams will see this as a game they must win,” said Sandford captain Jamie Palmer.
“After Cornwood beat us convincingly on the first day of the season. I am looking for us to come out and give a strong performance at home.
“Let's hope the weather holds because another rained off game will not be of any use to either of us.”
Tom Mitcham and Adrian Small return to strengthen the Sandford batting.
Jason Hall returns to skipper the Cornwood side heading to Sandford in a must win-encouter.
Chris Parker misses a second weekend due to a hamstring injury picked up in the T20 semi-final against Ivybridge.
“We will be looking to our batsmen to start building partnerships and reach a defendable total,” said Hall.
“The target will be to bat through the full allocation of overs and give our bowlers a target they can work with.
“We are a strong fielding side and have no doubt, that with our bowling attack we can take wickets and bowl sides out relatively cheaply.
“We need to set defendable targets if batting first. That’s the mission for Saturday and hopefully this will help gain the momentum needed to start pushing ourselves up the table.”
TORQUAY are planning to avoid an unwanted hat-trick when Plymouth visit the Recreation Ground.
Plymouth have already beaten the Seasiders twice this season in league and cup, but Torquay skipper Justin Yau says his side are a tougher proposition now.
“Plymouth have been excellent against us in the two times we've played them and we know they are a very good side,” said Yau.
“Hopefully we will stand up better this week having not lost in four and we are playing a good brand of cricket. “We had a poor run in the first round of fixtures and we need to make sure we are better this time round.”
Matt Thompson returns in the early order with Neal Osborn back in the twos for a good bat and bowl.
Somerset’s Max Waller is unavailable due to T20 commitments.
Plymouth’s plan is to get back on track after last week’s run-rate defeat by Exmouth.
The city side have been without the suspended Gionne Koopman (below) for the past couple of matches after he picked up a ban for showing dissent in the game against Bovey Tracey.
“After last week’s disappointment, we are excited about going to Torquay,” said captain Matt Hooper.
“We have put in two good performances against Torquay so far this season so I am hoping for one more.
“They have some good players in their top order so we will have to play well to beat them.
“Gionne is back, which is a huge positive for the club and team. I know he is chomping at the bit and to make up for lost time.
“We sit fourth halfway through the season and have lost to the teams above us but beaten all those below that we have played.
“I am hoping to improve our record in the second half of the season and I am looking for that to start at Torquay.”
PLUSSES and minuses just about cancel each other out for North Devon as their season goes into the second half with a trip to Exeter.
North Devon are halfway up the table after back-to-back defeats by top two Exmouth and Sidmouth and out of the running for honours this season.
Skipper Matt Westaway knows where the problems lie and hopes the rest of the season will see an improvement.
“So far we have been largely indifferent but I would like to think we can be a bit more stable and show and improvement in the second half,” said Westaway.
“There are damaging batsmen in our side – proven Devon League performers such as Neil Bettis and Rob Gear – who just aren’t clicking. That is bound to change.
“This year we didn’t go for an overseas batsman as we have in the past, which in hindsight has left us a bit light.
“The problem is we are missing the stability Dan Bowser brings batting at three, where he holds it together while the rest bat around him.
“Having Dan out for an entire season because of an operation has really hurt us.”
That’s the down side, but it isn’t all gloom and doom
Westaway said at the start of the season he wanted to see youngsters Max Curtis and Barney Huxtable turn potential into performances… and the have.
“It is good to see our young players starting to come of age,” said Westaway.
“Max Curtis looks fantastic when he goes out and we are all pleased to see him playing for the Devon side and scoring runs.”
Availability issues haven’t helped North Devon either. All-rounder Ed Yeo returns against Exeter having missed the last three games attending weddings.
North Devon do have some extra assistance against Exeter though as Somerset’s Jamie Overton is likely to be available to them.
“We are 99 per cent sure Jamie will be able to play, which is fantastic news,” said Westaway.
Fast bowler Joe Barrs and batter Rob Holman come into the Exeter side for what skipper Miles Lenygon believes will be a ‘good game between two evently matched sides’.