+++ FRIDAY NEWS FILE +++ FRIDAY NEWS FILE +++

HEATHER CONFIDENT CHUDLEIGH ARE WELL PREPARED FOR SIX-GAME SPRINT

CHUDLEGH captain Matt Heather is confident his team is well prepared for the six-game sprint in South Division Two.

Dartington & Totnes, who dominated the C Division West last season, are the first-day visitors to Kate Brook.

Chudleigh have had practice games for both XIs over the past two weeks and Heather says the team is raring to go.

“Pre-season has gone as well as it could have with everyone having a good opportunity to bat and bowl against good opposition,” said Heather. 

“I think our group looks really competitive. We had good games against Brixham and Ipplepen last year. D&T won their league convincingly last season, so I'm sure they will be a strong team. 

“I think the league have grouped us well, should be good.”

CUP VENUE SWITCH

ORGANISERS of the Brockman Cup, the oldest 20-over competition in Devon, have re-arranged venues for finals day on September 13.

It had been planned to play both semi-finals and the final one after the other on a finals day at Torquay CC.

Fears over diminishing light on a mid-September afternoon led to a rethink when the committee met earlier this week.

Paignton had already offered to host one of the semi-finals and committeemen agreed it would be worthwhile accepting.

Paignton and Torquay CCs will both host a semi-final with start times of 11am. The final as it has done every year since 1932, when the Old Manorians defeated the Inland Revenue, will be played at Torquay.

AARON PRINTERS CUP DRAW WILL BE PUBLISHED NEXT WEEK

THE Aaron Printers Cup is set to follow the trend set by the Brockman Cup and switch to Sunday play this season.

Competition organiser Conrad Sutcliffe circulated clubs today (Friday) with proposals to play cup games on dates not being used for the Brockman Cup.

The only potential difference is that clubs will be allowed to play first-round ties on midweek dates UP TO August 7.

The date of the final will depend on how many clubs actually enter.

“If we have eight or fewer clubs in the draw we can complete the competition in August and have a Bank Holiday Weekend final,” said Sutcliffe, who has run the competition for more than 20 years.

“Any number greater than eight will mean one more round and the final will be held over until the first Sunday in September.”

Clubs have until Monday at 6pm to decide whether they will be entering the competition, which celebrates its 70th anniversary in 2021.

The draw will be announced on Tuesday, when an announcement about possible prize money will be made.