Torquay on revenge mission to Barton

BARTON are braced for the backlash when they meet Torquay in what is bound to be a lively derby at Cricketfield Road (1.30pm).

Torquay’s promotion prospects went into a flat spin after their last meeting with Barton, who won by four wickets on the Recreation Ground.

From second in the table before the last meeting, Torquay lost four of the next five games and that was the end of their promotion prospects.

Barton captain Adam Parker knows Torquay will come out all guns blazing, but is confident his team has the firepower to repel them.

“We all know the form book goes out of the window in games like this and it will be down to who wants it more on the day,” said Parker, fresh from a 158-run win over Tavistock.

“Our performance against Tavistock last Saturday showed what we are capable of when we step up to the plate, but it’s not that long ago we were bowled out for 80 by Cornwood and 44 at Sandford.

“If we play to our potential we can win again, but Torquay will be out to prove a point. Our best performance of the season so far was at Torquay and it will need something similar to beat them again.”

Torquay go into the game on the back of a one-wicket defeat by Abbotskerswell in a low-scoring gamed that dragged on to 8.38 last Saturday night.

The form book Parker has thrown out of the window would have suggested that Torquay were favourites to beat Abbots.

Torquay skipper Justin Yau laid the blame fairly and squarely on the conditions at the Recreation Ground, rather than any dramatic loss of form on the part of his side.

“I don’t think I have ever played on a worse pitch at the Recreation Ground – and you could see what was coming before we started,” said Yau.

“Both sides knew whichever side won the toss would have a massive advantage – and that’s exactly what happened.

“The fact it took 99 overs to score 200 runs – and a quarter of them were extras, not off the bat – tells a story.

“”I am not going to worry about last Saturday. We aren’t going up this season so the result hasn’t made a difference.

“We do owe Barton one for what happened at our place earlier in the season and are going up there looking to repay them… with interest.”

Torquay were handicapped by the absences of Mickey Wilkinson and Matt Hickey last Saturday. Both are set to reappear. Owen Penrice replaces Steve Weatherall.

SOUTH Devon are trying not to feel the pressure too much going into their basement derby clash with Abbotskerswell.

A run of six defeats on the bounce has dropped South Devon down to three off the bottom. Barton went past them last Saturday after their win over bottom side Tavistock.

The next side down are Abbotskerswell, who are 11 points behind in the second drop spot.

While winless Tavistock are doomed – they are 55 points away from South Devon – Abbots have the time to scramble to safety.

South Devon were sitting pretty earlier in the season after winning four out of five. A stuffing by Torquay was the start of their problems and it has been downhill ever since.

David Knowles, the South Devon captain, said there was no room left for error now if his side intend to avoid visiting the B Division for the first time in their history.

“There is more pressure on Abbots than us as they have to win by a distance to get ahead of us,” said Knowles.

“Our first priority is not to lose – and after that we have to do our best to win the game if we can.

“A win in this game makes the season look a lot rosier from our point of view. We could be 25 points clear with Tavistock to play next. Abbots have already played Tavvy twice so there are no more easy points for them from that source.”

Batter Matt Blackmore, a former Abbots’ captain, comes into the side for Ben Chadwick, who drops down to assist the 2nd XI.

Abbots are still enjoying the warm glow generated by the one-wicket win over Torquay last Saturday, which enhanced their survival prospects no end.

Having dismissed Torquay for 104, Abbots scraped home with three balls and one wicket to spare to claim 15 valuable points.

Abbots slumped from 75 for four to 98 for nine in reply, but got home thanks to last pair Alex Birt and Dickie Acton. Skipper Marcus Green said his team had a point to prove and were determined to make it.

“Having been shot out for 55 the first time we played them, everyone had a little extra to give,” said Green.

“There was a time earlier in the season when we would have lost at Torquay due to the way we collapsed, but we are made of stronger stuff now.

We knew we had to win as Barton were always going to get 20 points off Tavistock and South Devon were not going to beat Exmouth – two results which really helped us. All we had to do was help ourselves.”

Birt drops out of the side in favour of Paul Parsons, allowing Green the luxury of fielding the strongest side he has got.