THE coming weekend will be the crucial time in Tavistock Cricket Club's season, with a key league fixture against United Services on Saturday, followed by the County Cup semi-final tie against Sidmouth on Sunday — and on the evidence of recent displays, there is every cause for optimism. It is some time since there was such a buzz around the Ring.

On Saturday the first eleven put Bideford to the sword to lift themselves clear in the division B promotion zone.

The side from North Devon were dismissed for 158, Tshepo Legodi claiming 4 for 30. Adam Bridgwater took 2 for 25, and Andy Gauler, as he so often does, chipped in with 3 decisive middle-order wickets.

The target proved to be well within Tavistock's reach. Dave Watson with 64, Simon Crawford with 49, and John McGahey with 35 not out, saw them home by 8 wickets with 11 overs to spare.

On the same afternoon, the second elevens of the two clubs were meeting at the Ring, and again Tavistock came out on top.

The visitors' total of 70 for 9 in their 46 overs tells the story.

Stuart Munday took 4 for 13 in 13 overs, and Oliver Hicks 3 for 10 in 10.

The home side needed less than half of their overs to reach the winning total. Dave Jeffery top-scored with 27, and Andrew Alford was undefeated with 24.

There have been some impressive personal performances in recent mid-week games at the Ring

Against tourists who used to call themselves Islington Police, but who have now mysteriously transformed themselves into the Montenotte Club, Bobby Luscombe with 90 and Ian Palmer with 89, shared an unbroken second wickets stand, in a close game.

Naveen Makhija, making a short but welcome return to the ground where he played the 1999 season, scored 80 against Shrivenham.

In the same match Dave Simpson, batting at Number 6, scored 19 in an over. John Jackson's 66 not out against Ashtead did not prevent an 8-wicket defeat at the hands of the visitors from Surrey

And Legodi's half-century in the game against Chagford was insufficient to produce anything better than a draw.

And so to the crunch weekend. On Saturday the first eleven are at home to United Services in a league fixture which, given the lowly position of the visitors, ought to go Tavistock's way. Sponsors of the game are Wolferstans Solicitors.

On the same afternoon the second team will do their own promotion prospects a lot of good if they are able to get a good result from their visit to Ippledon.

Then on Sunday the Ring will be the setting for the County Cup semi-final between Tavistock and Sidmouth. The view from Ringside is that a home victory would be a major upset, but that the way Tavistock are playing these days anything is possible. Whatever the outcome, it will be the club's biggest occasion of the season.

Cricket followers who need to unwind a little after the tensions of the weekend might like to drop in at the Ring on Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon, to watch the friendly games against Tichbourne Park and Mendip Acorns respectively. Sponsoring the two games are the Fox and Hounds Hotel at Bridestowe, and David Smiley Supplier of Fine Wines.