PAIGNTON’S yo-yo days will become a thing of the past if skipper George Benton gets his way.
Shuttling between the top two divisions has become a habit for the Queens Park club, who have been up and down four times in each direction in the last 11 seasons.
Benton, in his second season as captain, has had enough of the yo-yo experience and says this time Paignton are back to stay.
“We won’t be bottom – I am certain of that,” said Benton. “What we will be is in the top four.”
Benton is not the first Paignton skipper to predict a bright future. However he does have justification to back up his claims.
Back at Queens Park from a tour of the South West that has included Exmouth CC and Bath is Seb Benton, the all-rounder older brother of the captain.
Former Brixham captains Tom Blundell and Mark Orchard signed on the dotted line before Christmas, boosting Paignton’s bowling options. Orchard can bat as well.
Connor Ashworth, a spin bowler, is a returnee to QP from Brixham.
Connor Bryan, a predecessor of Benton’s, is back after a brief stay down the divisions at Stoke Gabriel. He has 1st XI tons to his name.
The Ward brothers – Charlie and Harry – are back having spent the winter working on their games with Somerset and in New Zealand respectively.
Paignton’s overseas player is London-born Barbados resident Anthony Alleyne, a batting all-rounder who went through Surrey’s youth system.
