THORVERTON have added South African all-rounder Brendan Coetzee to their playing roster for the A Division season ahead in the Tolchards Devon Cricket League.

The 19-year-old arrived in time for the pre-season friendly against Heathcoat on Saturday and signed in with a couple of wickets with his off-spin.

Coetzee turns out for Paarl CC, for whom he cracked 72 on his first-team debut in the Boland Premier League in November. He spent four months during 2022 on a scholarship at Stowe School in Buckinghamshire, for whom he made 35 appearances.

Choules said Thorverton have a preferred profile for overseas players and Coetzee fits the bill.

“Brendan will be similar to our last few overseas players, batting in the top order and bolstering the bowling attack,” said Choules.

“He is a hard-hitting, top-order bat with experience playing in the UK, which is similar to our last few overseas players, so I’m looking forward to seeing him in action.

“As in previous years, Brendan will not only be part of the 1st XI, but will also be heavily involved in the coaching of our junior section.

Coetzee is the only significant new face at Thorverton this season.

Thorverton have finished mid-table – sixth then fifth – in the two seasons since they were promoted into the A Division.

Promotion talk is not on Choules’ agenda: just progress.

“I hope we can keep moving in an upward direction, although it will be difficult with all of the travelling this season and lots of tough opposition.

“I think Abbotskerswell will be our closest away game.”

TAVISTOCK skipper Charlie Barriball is aiming to do more than just hang-on to a spot in the Tolchards DCL A Division this season.

Getting up and staying up has been a problem for Tavistock in the past, which is why they were a little apprehensive going back into the A Division last summer.

Barriball led Tavistock to a respectable sixth place in the A Division, where they were mathematically closer to second top than second bottom.

Twelve months on the first priority remains staying up, but Barriball is aiming to achieve a bit more.

“Our very minimum is to stay in the division, but we would hope to be well clear of that and push for the top half of the table,” said Barriball.

It has been a largely quiet close season on the transfer front at Tavistock with no significant ins or outs.

The one new face to report is Sri Lankan batter Dimuth Sandaruwan, who arrived on Tuesday and is set to make his bow against Plymstock on Saturday.

Traditionally, Tavistock have engaged bowlers as their overseas players. Barriball said the club felt it was time for a change.

“The club has decided to take the route of a batting overseas having seen the difference one made to many teams last season,” said Barriball.

Sandaruwan, who bats left-handed, left Galle CC in 2022 for Negombo CC, for whom he has featured in red and white-ball cricket.

In the 50-over format of the game his highlight so far was 88 not out against the Sri Lankan Navy. He averaged 34.66 in the List A season.

Barriball will hope to get a few overs of spin bowling out of his new signing too.

PLYMSTOCK captain James Nicholls has set out his agenda for the season ahead – and it does not include just surviving following promotion.

Nicholls led Plymstock to promotion from the Tolchards DCL B Division last season by a comfortable 21-point margin over Bridestowe, who pipped Cullompton by five points for runners-up spot.

It was Plymstock’s second successive promotion as they were C Division West champions 12 months earlier. Nicholls made an immediate return to the B Division a ‘must’ following relegation out of it in September 2021.

Plymstock’s last visit to the A Division was in 2017 after promotion the previous season. They went straight back down. The side David Orchard led to promotion in 2011 only managed two summers at the next level up.

Nicholls is well aware of Plymstock’s previous struggles in the A Division and said the club has no intention of repeating them.

“With the side we expect to put out – the best we have had for 30 years according to those with long memories – we hope to be competitive,” said Nicholls.

“We don’t intend being in the A Division just to make-up the numbers and want to show that our yo-yo-days are a thing of the past.”

Nicholls said all-rounder Tom Mitch was talent-spotted by Devon CCC for their Lions development programme and has benefited from winter training with the county club coaches.

Young all-rounder Matt Whalley has been part of a winter training camp for spin bowlers in Sri Lanka organised by Somerset CCC.

“In ‘Matty’ and ‘Mitchy’ we have two of the best spinners around,” said Nichollls.

“Both have been working incredibly hard on their already talented batting and will be major parts of the top order.
“And with Rob Cunningham, Hal Kerton and Alex Karvelas all fit to bowl again, we should have a bowling attack to compete with anyone,” said Nicholls.

The only thing missing from Plymstock’s armoury this season is an overseas player –and that’s not for the lack of trying!

Two players were willing to sign-up, but both deals fell through.

“We are still working on it and should have some news soon,” said Nicholls.