By CONRAD SUTCLIFFE
SANDFORD skipper Richard Foan has further strengthened his squad for the Premier season ahead by signing Lawrence Walker from Ottery St Mary.
Walker, an early order batsman who bowls a bit too, has been piling up the runs for club and county since the age of nine.
Having had four seasons in adult sides at Ottery, including one spent almost entirely in the club’s C Division East team, Walker is ready to step up another level.
Richard Foan, the Sandford captain, said Walker is not guaranteed a 1stXI place from the start but he is expected to push for one.
“Lawrence is a talented young lad looking to play at a high level and will be a good addition for the future,” said Foan.
“We are always looking to bring in some younger players who can take the club forward and are hungry to play premier cricket.
“Lawrence understands we have a strong batting line up, but is willing fight for those places which shows good character.
“He scored a very impressive century in Devon age-group cricket last summer, which shows his ability.”
It is always a blow for a lower-division club to nurture a young player then see them leave. Alex Clements, the Ottery captain, said he was sad to lose Walker, but understood his reasons.
“I had a chat with Lawrence and he wants to test himself at the highest level,” said Clements.
“I had to put on my coaching head when chatting to Lawrence, who has been honest and open all the way through.
“Lawrence is ambitious and wants to go as far as he can. Had a few offers from various teams and went for Sandford.
“It is disappointing to lose him, but we wish Lawrence all the best and will be keeping an eye out for his scores to see how he does.
“It will be a step up for Lawrence, but he's determined and will put the work in.”
Walker was talent-spotted early by Devon and made is debut in the under-10 county side a year early in 2014.
Three seasons later Walker was still playing a year ahead of himself in the under-13 side and had made his debut for Ottery 3rdXI. By the end of the 2017 summer he was playing 2ndXI cricket.
Early in the 2019 season Walker was promoted into the Ottery 1stXI. He made a half-century against Heathcoat 2ndXI the second time he played and has carried on scoring runs ever since.
Walker was Devon’s leading run getter on the 2020 under-15 development squad tour to South Africa. He made a century against Western Province. His summer 2020 highlight was an unbeaten 117 for Devon in a T20 win over Dorset under-17s
