B Division briefing – week five: Harvey (pictured) back for Ivybridge | Rider's return a boost for the Pens
B DIVISION BRIEFING – WEEK SIX
IPPLEPEN (8th) v IVYBRIDGE (4th_
Ipplepen (Matt Beasant): A few changes as always. Noah Rider (spinner) is back from uni now so that's a huge boost. Ash Harvey in for Warrick Green, who has a Plymouth College match. Henry Alsop retains his place after a great debut, Marcus Gadie unfortunately misses out with a broken digit. Hoping to improve on a good win last week against an equally dangerous side in Ivybridge.
Ivybridge: One change again for us this week. Harvey Johnson in for Lewis Clarke. Aim to continue on from Saturday’s (beat Bideford) momentum. Looking to keep ourselves cemented in the top four.
BUDLEIGH SALTERTON (2nd) v ABBOTSKERSWELL (9th)
Budleigh Salterton (Ed Doble): Lots available this weekend and tough selection calls, welcome back both Ollie Blakeman and Jack England.
Abbotskerswell (Toby Codd): Charlie Smout-Cooper comes in for Chris Clough. A really big couple of weeks coming up for us. The message is still clear – stick together and keep enjoying our cricket. A couple of wins and things quickly change.
PLYMSTOCK (top) v CLYST ST GEORGE (3rd)
Plymstock (Tom Mitch): Hoping the rain stays away and we can get a full game in, another week with changes, Ben Whalley and Olly Birleson come in for their first team debuts, very good to be in a position as a club to bring young lads in to show what they're about. Looking to continue the winning streak, Clyst have started the season well and we have little experience against them so should be a good game.
Clyst St George (Dan Kendall): A few changes this week, as Chris Ferro, Stephen King and Ridouan Asselman come in to the side. Expecting Plymstock to be full of confidence after the start they've had, but we've had a couple of good victories and will be giving everything to make it three in a row.
STOKE GABRIEL v BOVEY TRACEY 2nd XI
Bovey Tracey (Bradley Causey): Quite a bit of change for us this week, and skipper Mr Green is no doubt enjoying multiple lagers in Tenerife. Dan Boteler and Jamie Bishop are two of those coming in, after both hit match-winning knocks in the last week. The Forey brothers also are into the side, offering a bit of pace and tidy glove-work. Furthermore, Jack Thomas and Josh Hill round off the changes. Russell and Bishop have both played first-team cricket this year, so good to have them with us. It's a nice place to play cricket down at Stoke Gabriel, and I'm looking forward to it.
Stoke Gabriel (Jack Tolley): Two changes this week, Maxwell and Mike Smith out, Jack De-vere and Ben Till in. Aiming to keep out good form going. Hoping the weather stays clear
BIDEFORD (10th) v BRAUNTON (7th)
Braunton (Sam Reddick): Great availability across the club this week, Tim Smallridge comes in for Jason Raynor. Tim will bat in the top six for us and strengthen our batting further. Our obvious aim is to snap our three-game losing streak, in which we have been so close to winning two of them. Looking for us to stand up and deliver this week. What better way to do it than against local lads Bideford!
Bideford (Jack Ford): Tom Brend (batter) back in after two weeks away. James Hayter in for his first game of the season.
