Brixham aiming to avoid last-day dramas

SKIPPER Chris Lanyon wants Brixham to get on with it and wrap up promotion with time to spare.

With five games to go Brixham are 29 points behind leaders Shobrooke, who look unassailable, with Plymstock (-3) then Chudleigh (-19) in their wake.

Brixham’s run in is Cockington, Axminster, Bideford, Plymstock and Chagford. Only Plymstock can do serious damage to their chances.

It’s been an up-and-down struggle, but Lanyon hopes the win at Clyst St George last time out has set the tone for the rest of the season.

“Cockington, Axminster and Bideford are all in the bottom half of the table and games we need to win,” said Lanyon.

“That will take the pressure of us before Plymstock come to our place on the last-but-one Saturday of the season.

“Ideally, I would like to have promotion sorted after the Plymstock game as I really don’t want to go to Chagford on the last day of the season needing one more win.

“Chagford may not have had the sort of season they intended, but at full strength they are as strong as anyone in this division and capable of beating everyone.”

Tim Robinson has earned a return ticket from the 2nd XI on the strength of runs and wickets. He replaces Rhys Dallow.

Meanwhile, Brixham entertain Sidmouth tonight in the quarter-finals of the Devon T20 KO Cup.

CHAGFORD are looking forward to seeing out the season without too many stresses and strains, staring with their visit to Axminster tomorrow.

Promotion ceased to be an option some time ago, but it took last Saturday’s victory over Plymstock to end the perceived threat of relegation.

Skipper Jeremy Christophers wants to throw in some of the youngsters in what’s left of the season – and has 15-year-old batter Paul Penberthy pencilled into the side tomorrow.

New faces Stewart Grainger and Julian Baker also make their debuts, although neither is a youngster.

On the missing list are all-rounders Andy Astley and Mark Gribble, batter Henry Gordon-Lennox and seamer Duncan Christophers.

Said skipper Christophers: “Beating Plymstock was important as it means we would have to play lamentably badly to get relegated now.

“Had we played like we did at Plymstock all season – we would be up there pitching with the best of them.

“Where we are in the table means we can start planning for next season and developing the youngsters who will get us out of this division.”