BRADNINCH and Kentisbeare start their defence of the Tolchards DCL Premier Division title just up the road at Heathcoat.
Last season’s top dogs have had a modest season on the recruiting front with just a couple of new faces in the dressing room.
Toby Hard, a left-arm spin bowler who can bat as well, has switched from B Division side Abbotskerswell for a crack at Premier cricket.
Also on board is former Chudleigh and Bovey Tracey keeper-batter Adam Kent, who will be filling in for the largely unavailable Justin Wubbeling.
South African all-rounder Malusi Siboto, a 400-game professional veteran, takes over from Madawa Warnapura as the overseas player.
Otherwise it is as you were at Kensham Park going into the season ahead.
An opening run of games against Heathcoat, Sidmouth, Sandford and Cornwood – three of last season’s top six – will test Bradninch and Kentisbeare from the word go.
Gary Chappell, who steered Bradninch & Kentisbeare to the title, is both optimistic and realistic on the eve of a new season.
“Our ultimate target is to win the league again, but we also have and eye on the future and the transition to the next generation begun last season will continue,” said Chappell.
“I think the Premier Division will be stronger this year, especially while there are Exeter University players knocking during the first half.
“We have a tough start, but it's a long season and I expect everyone will beat everyone. Hopefully we're in the mix come the back end.”
HEATHCOAT have brought and old face back to Knightshayes for their assault on the Tolchards DCL Premier Division.
South African seam bowler Malcolm Cloete has had three previous stints with the club in 2018, 2019 and 2022. His tally of 110 wickets at less than 16 runs each includes a six for 25 haul that helped skittle Sidmouth for 65 in his last season at Heathcoat.
Cloete was a member of the Heathcoat side that won the Premier Division title and the Devon T20 Cup in 2019.
Heathcoat had hoped Cloete would return in 2023 and 2024, but he opted for a spell in the West of England Premier Division with Chard, where former Heathcoat colleague Reid Mawdsley was a team-mate.
Cloete’s wicket-taking form continued unabated, admittedly at a lower level, with 84 league wickets in an average below 12.
Other old faces returning to Heathcoat include former Devon duo Jack Dart and Liam Lewis, who scaled back their cricket commitments last season. Batters Pete Randerson and Toby Lochead are other familiar faces.
Although batter James Boyle has departed from last year’s squad, the arrival of Exeter University students Seb Allison and Travis Norris should be some compensation, at least in the early part of the season.
Norris is an opening bat with runs in the book for Middlesex Premier side Stanmore last season. He also offers a left-arm spin option.
Allison, a new-ball bowler, has previous white and red-ball experience with Northumberland. He picked-off a couple of Buckinghamshire batters opening the bowling for Devon on Sunday.
Dylan Penberthy-Hutchings, the Heathcoat captain, is largely content with the make-up of his squad and looking forward to being a title contender.
“With Seb and Travis in for a few games – and the old guard back for the majority of the season – we have a nice blend of young talent and experience,” he said.
“As long as we can keep availability and selection consistent, and play hard, aggressive cricket, there is no reason why we can't be in the mix come the end of August.”
Heathcoat finished seventh out of ten last season, although what happened off the field was more important than what happened on it.
The Knightshayes pavilion was razed to the ground in mid-August due to a fire caused by an electrical fault. Blueprints are still going through the planning process for a replacement, which the club hopes to have operational in 2026.
For the season ahead there will be tented changing rooms, a toilet block, power and water on site and a bar, refrigeration facility and secure lock-up area in two re-purposed shipping containers.
