Devon Cricket Board - Shobrooke skipper looking to climb table

Shobrooke skipper looking to climb table

SHOBROOKE Park get the new season up and running with a visit to Plympton.
After last season’s great escape from relegation – just two points kept them up – Shobrooke would like a less stressful 2012.
Skipper Chris Ford is making no rash predictions, but with new players on board and experience gained from last season’s struggles he is optimistic.
“As a promoted side last season all we wanted to do was stay up – by whatever margin,” said Ford.
‘We had been promoted a couple of times before and gone straight back down again, but proved to ourselves we could hold on.
“This season I am looking to improve and the target is 150 points, which should keep us well away from trouble.
“Now we know we can stay up there is less pressure. And if we don’t, the club won’t fall apart.”
Back after a four-year break is opening bowler Tom O’Keefe, who has brought serviceman pal Dan Maytum with him to bat and keep wicket.
The new overseas player is Emmanuel Parmakellis, an opening bowler from Sydney.
Gone from last season’s squad is Phil Anning, who has joined Exmouth in search of Premier cricket.
PLYMPTON skipper Andy Walter has two blasts from the past to help his side get back into the Premier Division at the first attempt.
The Harewood Park club have re-recruited former Devon keeper-batter Jeremy Williams and Ross Farrer to strengthen a rebuilding squad.

Williams has made a gradual comeback into the first-team ranks, playing for the seconds and a single game for the firsts last season.

Farrer is back in the fold after returning to the area from Gloucestershire.

Walter said: “Jeremy, who has a young family, has been able to commit to the first team this yea

“Him and Ross should make us stronger."

Walter added: “I would hope that we're in the mix to go back up at the end of the season.

“It was down to the weather in the end last year – we had two matches rained off and Heathcoat (who survived) had none, but that's the way things pan out.

“We know we're good enough to be in the Premier, but we're in transition at the moment.”

Plympton’s overseas assistance comes in the shape of 29-year-old Pakistani pacer Aamer Hayat, who has appeared in one and three-day cricket for Lahore over the past five seasons.

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