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The Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital had a busy time with
Bradninch cricketers over the opening weekend of the Francis
Clark Devon Cricket League Season; Mark Perrott requiring the
help of the NHS�s finest on Saturday, Les Kent and Chris Dean
needing similar care the following day. �Budgie� (Perrott) was
first to go down acquiring a hand injury playing for the 2nd XI
in their opening league game at Hatherleigh 2nds on Saturday.
The following afternoon both Les Kent and Chris Dean also needed
treatment.
Les was hurt when fielding, suffering a split to the webbing
between his fingers. As the long standing club stalwart was
getting changed to journey to the Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital,
poor old Chris Dean took a ball in the face whilst keeping
wicket. In time honoured fashion of sharing travel the two went
off to hospital together. Casualties apart - none will miss
too much cricket - it was a FABULOUS weekend for the club sides
with wall to wall wins. The 1st XI opened their Devon League �A�
Division campaign with a four wicket win over visiting Cornwood.
The visitors were restricted to 228-9. Skipper Joel Murphy and
Paul Nott both bagged three wickets and then half centuries from
teenage pair Eliot Acton and Joe Webb who were supplemented by a
debut 40 from Zimbabwean Ryan Butterworth. Another teenager, Dan
Hardy hit 23 to see the side home by four wickets. Can the 2nd
XI get yet another promotion? Don�t bet against it after they
delivered a superb opening day seven wicket win at Hatherleigh.
It was one of the club�s longest standing servants who starred
with ball and bat - Andy Nichols had a fine all round game.
First he picked up three wickets as the hosts were bowled out
for 192 and then, after Lukas Fencl had hit 74 and skipper Nat
Davey 32, Nichols chipped in with 39 to give Bradninch their
winning start - and who knows, perhaps the start of a third
successive promotion season - now that would be something.
Completing a fine weekend�s work the Sunday 1xt XI chalked up a
third win in three outings leading the North Devon League 1st
Division alongside Lynton & Lynmouth.
Both clubs have 'played three, won three' records. The Sunday
XI�s skipper Gary Chappell played the match winning role with
runs and wickets. He top scored with 84. Chris Acton also hit a
half century, as the side posted a challenging 246-8 and then
Chappell claimed four wickets as the reply got to within 19 runs
before victory was claimed. Les Kent and Ross Acton also picked
up a couple of wickets each. | 
