- 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
BRIXHAM’S Mark Orchard and Budleigh Salterton’s Jack Dart are two new faces for Devon’s trip to Shropshire in the final Minor Counties Championship game of the season.
After the match against Dorset at Exeter was washed out two weeks ago, Devon gave up all hope of retaining the Minor Counties title they won last season.
Devon can only get a maximum of 72 points if they win at Whitchurch – a venue they have not visited before – which won’t be enough to overhaul current leaders Wiltshire.
In a rain-ruined season Devon have not lost a game, but have only completed two out of five matches and one of those was drawn.
With nothing on the game skipper Chris Bradley and director of cricket Roger Newman have decided to look at players who may be part of the squad next season.
Dart, a Blundell’s School boy, has impressed as a batter in Lions Development XI games. A good showing in the T20 defeat by Gloucestershire at Cornwood last Friday evening cemented his place in the 14-man travelling party.
Devon have been working with Dart all season so his inclusion isn’t a huge surprise. However, Orchard has come from nowhere to earn his place in the travelling party.
A Division batsmen know all about Orchard as he is among the quickest English-qualified bowlers around. He can bat a bit too as half-century against Premier side Plymouth in the Devon Cup earlier this season proved.
Newman saw Orchard in action in Sunday for the Devon League XI against the Devon Lions at Sandford and was so impressed with what he saw he registered him on the spot.
With 14 in the travelling party – the same 12 who sat around for three days while the game against Dorset was meeting a soggy end – three players will be left out.
It’s hard to see Orchard and Dart not playing – no point taking them otherwise – so difficult decisions lie ahead for Newman and captain Bradley.
Newman dropped a broad hint he would like to look at Orchard in a Minor Counties environment, saying: “We have to start planning ahead for next season when Charlie Morris will be playing mostly for Worcesterhire.
“I liked what I saw of Orchard at Sandford – my first thought was he must be someone’s professional.
“Dart we have been keeping tabs on for a while and the way he handled himself against Gloucestershire when he wasn’t afraid to play shots against pro bowling reinforced my view he has something about him.”
Devon (from): J E Burke (Budleigh), R J Holman (Exeter), R J Woodman (Taunton), D F Lye (Exmouth), S R Benton (Paignton), J J Bess (Sidmouth), J Dart (Budleigh), M W Thompson (Torquay), P Bradley (Bovey), M C Golding (Bradninch), T S Anning (Exmouth), C Bradley (Bovey), M A Orchard (Brixham), R J Bougourd (Bovey).