Devon Cricket Board - South Devon look to the future

South Devon look to the future

South Devon CC president David Jervois (left) hands over the Committe Trophy to winner Mike Smith. Also pictured is Chris Hart of sponsors Wollen Michelmore
SOUTH Devon have already started planning for an upturn in fortunes at Marsh Lane following a second successive relegation.

The 1^st XI didn’t win a game last season and finished bottom of the B Division by a distance.

Next season takes South Devon into uncharted territory as they have not played in the C Division before.

There is the attraction of derby games against Ipplepen, Shaldon and Dartington & Totnes to look forward to – not that South Devon intend hanging around in the C Division longer than necessary.

As recently as 2012 South Devon were playing A Division cricket and the aim is to get back there as soon as possible.

Youngster Jonty Parsons, who is only 19, stood in as 1^st XI skipper last season and led by example with bat and ball. No one took more wickets (19) or scored more runs (294).

Parsons will be at college for much of next season, which rules him out as skipper.

Wright, who started off in the U13s at South Devon, has agreed to step in and will be working with a team determined to get the club moving in the right direction again.

“We are setting up a task force of senior players to promote the club and aim to get ambitious cricketers on board,” said chairman Barry Widdicombe.

“The last two years have not been great, but we think we have learned from what has gone wrong and can put it right.

“There need to be more commitment to practice and for that you really need a coach overseeing things.

“A fresh pair of eyes also helps which is why we are hoping to bring a player-coach over from Australia in 2014.

“The visa details are still being sorted out, but if all goes according to plan the person concerned will be here in January or February.

“That is ideal as our winter nets start then and if we want to start the season well a good pre-season is going to help.”

Widdicombe said until the paperwork is sorted out he won’t be releasing the name of the player-coach.

However, he did drop a few hints.

“He is a quick bowler who has played in Devon before so knows the conditions and the standard,” said Widdicombe.

“We have been in contact with his former Devon League club and they said nothing but good things about him as a player or a coach.”

Not surprisingly Parsons took the Tony Richardson Cup for player of the year at South Devon’s recent awards evening. He was also Gary Bowles Trophy winner as the leading 1^st XI wicket-taker.

Richard Beumont took one fewer wicket than Parsons while making 230 runs and won the WG Lewis Cup as the club’s all-rounder of the year.

Spin bowler James Hart took home the Bill Dalton Cup for the best performance of the season – six for 54 against Tavistock.

Mike Smith, a former 1^st XI captain and member of the new task force, won the Committee Trophy for the performance of the year. Smith smashed 148 against Stoke Gabriel in a 2^nd XI game in a league record stand of 276 with Matt Blackmore.

Blackmore made 119 against Stoke and topped the 2^nd XI averages with 719 at 55.3, which earned him the Len Coldwell Cup.

Other award winners:

Simon Chambers Cup (best young cricketer): James Allen; Mick Jones Cup (leading 2^nd XI bowler), Dave Amery and Max Ellis; Tim Bounden Cup (most improved): Joe Kitto.

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