HOLSWORTHY skipper Ryan Walter feels his side ‘have enough about us’ as a new-look Trees prepare to get their campaign started in Division Two East of the Bond Timber Cornwall Cricket League.

The Devonians have enjoyed an almost non-stop upward curve in recent years and have finished regularly in the top half of third third-tier.

But for the first time in recent memory, that could change.

Star all-rounder Jack Greening and opening bowler Rob Mitchell have joined Callington and St Austell respectively – while South African overseas player Herschelle Poggenpoel isn’t returning after two mightily impressive seasons.

Australian Noah Pigdon has the task of filling Poggenpoel’s shoes, while the rest of the squad is unchanged.

Walter said: “It’s unfortunate to lose a couple of good cricketers in Jack and Rob, but we’ve got to get on with it.

“It was also important to get an overseas in to replace Herschelle, which we’ve done with Noah.

“He’ll bat towards the top of the order and bowl his off-spin in the middle overs.

“He’s had a good season back at home in Australia so we’re looking forward to seeing what he does for us.”

With the league switching from 12 teams to ten, Walter knows it’s going to be different.

He said: “We know it may not be as plain sailing as recent seasons but I think we’ve got enough about us, we just need everybody to play to their full potential.

“With the departures it also gives opportunities for others to put their hand up.

“If we can get up towards halfway it’d be a very good season, particularly with how strong some of the teams are.

“That means we’re going to have to be streetwise and clever with what we do, but we still have plenty of experience at this level, which will be key to helping the youngsters develop when they are given opportunities.

“But it’ll be great for them to do so and I think they can thrive and do well.”

Holsworthy will have to find a way of replacing Greening who opened the batting and bowling, and Mitchell’s left-arm seamers, but Walter is hopeful.

He continued: “We’ve still got our spin options from last year which served us so well, but losing our two senior seamers in Jack and Rob means the young bowlers will get more chances.

“We’ve also got a few part-time options who maybe used a bit more than in previous years.”

The second team finished third in last year’s Division Five, which was enough to stay in that division despite the restructure, and Walter expects another solid campaign as Ryan Bridgman replaces Lyndon Piper.

He said: “The second team will be similar, and mid-table is doable.

“They’ve still got plenty of experience and some of the youngsters will be another year older.

“Also, the next crop of juniors will hopefully get to experience what it’s all about when the time is right.”

Holsworthy are a club these days with a thriving youth section, ladies’ team and Sunday outfit, and Walter believes they’ll flourish, adding: “The ladies are in the Devon Hardball League for the first time and also have a softball team again, while on Sundays we still have a team in the North Devon League who’ll play in Division Two.

“There’s plenty going on around the club during the summer and everybody is looking forward to getting started.”