SOUTH Devon CC’s ever-expanding youth section is back in the nets preparing for the season ahead.

Winter training started at Coombeshead Academy, Newton Abbot, helped by a £300 grant from the David Shepherd Cricket Trust towards the costs of hall hire.

Colts practice is from 3pm until 4.30pm on Sundays, March 13 and 20.

South Devon hope to run three sides from 13 level up this summer and have room for new players.

The club has been working closely with cricket charity Chance to Shine over the past four years to revive its youth section.

Chance to Shine has organised coaches to bring the club together with local primary schools to get youngsters playing the game.

The Newton Abbot-based club is now seeing the benefits as teenagers start filtering into the first team.

‘It is so rewarding for our youth coaches to see lads coming into the side,’ said South Devon chairman Barry Widdicombe.

‘Clubs like ours depend on developing their own players if we want to thrive.’

The success of the youth policy was celebrated at the youth section’s annual awards evening, held in the Marsh Road pavilion.

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