Devon’s Harry Goodwin who has won back his place in the England U25 team for the British Isles series in County Antrim in February, has been promoted to three, under clubmate and Torquay skip Louis Ridout, for the men’s inter-county championships match with Wiltshire at Isca a week on Saturday.
The 20-year-old former Kingsbridge Community College student deserves to move up the pecking order in Ridout’s rink and will be looking for a good performance as reigning England champions Devon prepare to face Wiltshire for a place in the semi-finals. Goodwin was in the side that beat Cumbria 114-82 in the 2017 final.
County selector and team manager Kevin Phillips has dropped two of his clubmates – Daniel Holloway and Kieran Daniels – and Tom Davies (Torquay Utd) comes off the bench to play under England senior trialist Ian Lesley (Torquay Utd).
Workmanlike displays have seen reigning England champions Devon beat Dorset 128-101 and Somerset 114-104. However, Neil Smith’s Wiltshire should provide the holders with their sternest test yet after beating Worcestershire 138-65 in the previous round.
Devon men’s team v Wiltshire (Isca): David Evans (Torquay Utd), Phil Hackett (Torbay), Kevin Phillips (Exonia), Ryan Whitlock (Torquay Utd); Bob Condon, Mick Powell (Exonia), John Evans, Danny Denison (all Torquay Utd); Jamie Heard (Exonia), Aaron Southgate, Harry Goodwin, Louis Ridout (Torquay Utd); Kieran Kniveton, Matt Bass (Torquay Utd), Simon Broom (Exonia), Sam Tolchard (Torquay Utd); Ollie Lucas (Plymouth), Paul Stone, James Hampton, Ian Bond (Exonia); Paul Daley (Plymouth), Tom Davis (Torquay Utd), Stuart Evans (Plymouth), Ian Lesley (Torquay Utd). Reserves: Kieran Daniels, Daniel Holloway (Exonia), Lloyd Roberts (Torquay Utd).