Premier Division Prospects – week 16: Cornwood hard hit by absences for Sandford trip | 'Creates great opportunities for others' – Elliott Staddon | Moore aiming for 'respectable' finish to relegation season | Cloete (pictured) back after injury for Hea
PREMIER DIVISION PROSPECTS – WEEK 16
Sandford (7th) v Cornwood (5th)
Sandford (Jamie Palmer): Harrison Jones returns for the injured Praison Alias. Otherwise an unchanged side. A couple of home games on the bounce, which will be nice. Looking forward to a competitive game against a good Cornwood side
Cornwood (Elliott Staddon): After a few poor weeks it's about trying to win all three remaining games and play some positive cricket to end the season on a high going into the winter. Unfortunately this week is the one we have been hit with unavailabilities, but I can't complain as up to this point the lads have been great at being available. Our top four from last weekend all out along with Samarpit, who headed back to India on Monday. Creates great opportunities for others with Noah Carlisle coming in to open the batting and wicket keep, Alex Shutt returns from Devon under-18s from last week, Sam Griffiths gets an opportunity after playing well in our 2nd XI and Ryan Rickard back from holiday. Great to have him back. Sandford always a lovely place to play so looking forward to a good day.
Exeter (4th) v Exmouth (2nd)
Exeter (Charlie Clist): Priorities are winning games of cricket whilst giving our younger talent some experience playing first-team league cricket. The 1st XI to host Exmouth is: O Gribble, Gundry, Linnitt, Mycock, Clist, Read. Fern (wk), F Cockram, Tipper, Joseph. H Gribble.
Exmouth (Fin Marks): One game at a time for us. Dropping two points (against Cornwood) has probably taken us completely away from the title. But we still want to finish well – and you never know what can happen? All the pressure is on Bradninch. Exeter are a tough team to play at their place, especially with I imagine there big timers coming back this weekend. Both Edworthys go back to the 2nd XI and Bob Dawson is away. The three missing from last week – Lawrence Greenway, Billy and Ed Butler – come back in.
Plymouth (6th) v Sidmouth (9th)
Plymouth (Sam Stein): We're looking to pick up as many points as possible and finish as high as we can for our first season back in the Premier Division. Good availability again this weekend and two games at home now should help us as well.
Sidmouth (Luke Bess): Needless to say, priority is doing everything we can to stay up. Team news; Devon youth lads back, Gaywood, Matravers and Musikanth all come straight in. Taylor also back in. Griffiths keeps his place after runs last week. Bower keeps his place after a very impressive debut.
North Devon (10th) v Heathcoat (8th)
North Devon (Jack Moore): Fred King back in. Tough week for the club with the embarrassing rules of dropping players down so got a couple out of place in either side. We are aware we are down but looking to finish the season strongly and in a respectable manner.
Heathcoat (Dylan Penberthy-Hutchings): Three games to go; three games to win. Matt Hague out and Dan Pugsley going to get some overs in for the 2nd XI. Jack Dart in and Malcolm Cloete back from injury for the remainder of the season.
Bradninch & Kentisbeare (top) v Paignton (3rd)
Bradninch & Kentisbeare (Gary Chappell): Same team as last week. Nice to have some continuity during an important stage of the season. Paignton have had a really good season with a few stand-out performers who have consistently put in match winning efforts. We'll try and nullify them, but won't lose focus on our own game and continuing to do what's been successful this season.
Paignton (Harry Ward): We’re still waiting on the artificial strength rules before confirming the final XI. Archie Farkins returns this week, which is a massive boost. It’s the first time this season we’ve had Aya Gqamana, Charlie Ward, and Archie all together, making up what’s probably the quickest seam attack in the county. Our goal now is to finish as high as possible. There’s still a slim chance of going all the way, but to give ourselves the best shot we need to win the next three games. Bradninch away is the toughest fixture in the calendar — no better test for the boys than this one!
