SOUTH Devon are faced with a near mission impossible against Teignmouth & Shaldon this Saturday if they are to avoid relegation from the C Division West.
Hatherleigh are already dead and buried, but one of South Devon (9.60pts), Brixham (10.69) or Teignmouth & Shaldon (11.33) will occupy the second place on relegation row.
South Devon have to beat Teignmouth & Shaldon to get past Brixham, which won’t be easy as T&S have an outside chance of going down if they lose heavily and Brixham win well.
If Brixham beat Ashburton it is almost certainly game over for South Devon irrespective of their result against T&S. The maximum average South Devon can obtain is 10.55. Brixham’s minimum average would be 9.93 if they take no points off Ashburton. Nine points from a defeat would be enough to save them.
Teignmouth & Shaldon only need three points against South Devon to dodge the drop.
South Devon have struggled for runs all season and it was the same old story for them at Bridestowe as the three Toms – Fogerty (2-4), Boother (1-16) and Pengelly – scythed through their top order.
Alex Bridgeman (43) and Paul Hooper (21) joined forces at 33 for for and their stand 54 staved off total collapse.
Hooper went first to the returning Pengelly (2-33), and with Bridgeman largely a spectator at the other end South Devon collapsed from 103 for five to 110 all out.
Dan Fogerty (3-27) mopped-up the tail-end Charlies. The last four did not score a run between them. Bridestowe were 18 without loss when rain stopped play.
South Devon's batters need to perform against Teignmouth & Shaldon, either setting a target or chasing one.
James Allen, the captain, is backing the batters to come good when it matters.
"We have to be positive at the crease and I am confident in our ability and depth," said Allen.