THORVERTON can lift themselves out of the B Division bottom three if they win at Plymstock.

The former leaders have had a rough couple of weeks after losing to Tavistock and Shobrooke, which could make them vulnerable.

Thors’win over Bideford last Saturday left them in the third relegation place, but only one point from safety.

Skipper Dave Baldock is happy with the way his side are playing and quietly confident looking ahead.

“We are in a run of games against all the top four – Ottery, Ivybridge, Bidford and Plymstock – before we get to teams in mid-table and below,” said Baldock.

“We only just lost by two runs to Ivybridge, we made Ottery work for a win over us so I can’t say I am surprised we won at Bideford as we have been playing well.

 “We have put in good performances in the last two weeks and showed we can compete with the top sides.

“Plymstock are the top all round side and we will need to match last week to get a result.”

BIDEFORD need a win over Ottery St Mary to rejoin the promotion race after they lost to Thorverton.

Only 19 points separate the top for – Ivybridge at the top and Bideford in fourth.

“Ottery were strong last time out so we need to show some character to beat them,” said Bideford skipper Paul Heard, referring to his side’s five-run win in the first leg.

Jack Ford replaces Tom Brend who is on holiday and Martin Stewart  is back in for Steve Bond.

BRAUNTON, at home to Shobrooke, are getting a little anxious after going three matches without a win.

“We need to start winning some games,” said captain Jon Baglow, who welcomes back Neil Bettis and Alex Hodges.

Shobrooke Park won for the first time in five starts when they defeated leaders Plymstock by six wickets.

“We were happy to come away with the points against a top-of-the-table team and hope to keep things going into this week,” said skipper Chris Simpson.

SOUTH Devon, out of the bottom three in the B Division after defeating Dartington & Totnes by 10 runs in the basement battle at Marsh Road., are away to Tavistock.

Four wins in five starts make South Devon the form team in the division right now, even though they are closer to the bottom than the top.

Skipper Jon Martin has been grappling with availability issues in the lead up to the game as all-rounders Mike Smith,James Allen and Henry Burningham are missing, as re batter Ali Wright and bowler Gareth Harris.

That’s five changes from the side that beat D&T – on top of which early order batters Mark Andrews and Dave Knowles are missing for a second week.

Richard Beaumont, who bats and bowls, Cameron Fogden and Emily Martin are among the players drafted in.

Tavistock away will be tough for Martin’s men as the Moorlanders have been creeping up the rankings.

Dave Ball and Ian Gray come back in to bolster the Tavvy batting but, seamer Mark Lewis is away.

“South Devon have been on a good run of late, but so have we,” said Tavvy skipper Shaun Daymond.

“Should be a good game of cricket and we're hoping to keep pressure on the teams above.”

 LEADERS Ivybridge make the short trip to Dartington without batter Andy Johnson and keeper Dave Eadie.

In come George Thompson and Chris Greenhouse.

“We are looking for another good performance this week against bottom of the league Dartington,” said captain Kelvin Trent

“We are going to have to be at our best to win - they can be a very dangerous.

“We want to get 20pts and keep the pressure on the chasing pack.”