SIDMOUTH – rained off at Plympton last Saturday – hope to make a belated start to the season against visiting Bovey Tracey.

Skipper Will Murray has been talking to a potential new signing this week and hoped to have the paperwork done last night, otherwise he won’t be able to play on Saturday.

Murray is giving nothing away about the identity of the new man, but the odds are it will be a bowler.

Sidmouth have to replace the 89 wickets taken jointly last season by Dan Babula, Josh Bess and Scott Barlow, none of whom are playing for the club this term.

Sidmouth may be much changed from last season, but Bovey captain Peter Bradley said the defending champions cannot be thought of as anything other than serious title contenders.

“Batting wise there is Matt Cooke to come up the order where he would be at most other clubs – and Nick Gingell is back playing 1st XI cricket this year,” said Bradley.

“Sidmouth have lost a fair bit of bowling, but I am sure they have strength in depth.

“Their 2nd XI have been champions of their division five times in the last seven years, so you can’t tell me they don’t have a bit of depth there.