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Posted:
Sunday 20th July 2008
Source: Stephen Birley
For
the first time in what to date, has been an exceptional
campaign, both the 1st and 2nd XI teams suffered defeats � on
the same day � and both against teams from Cornwood CC! The
senior side�s loss at Cornwood is not as damaging as the 2nd
XI�s home defeat in the grander scheme of things. Results
elsewhere in the �A� Division leave Bradninch still comfortably
clear of 3rd placed Cornwood who with six games and 120 points
to play for are 31 points adrift. Ryan Butterworth picked up
four wickets and skipper Joel Murphy claimed three but Cornwood
reached maximum batting points, closing on 200-8. Their overseas
pace man whipped out both Bradninch openers in the first over
and the die was cast with the reply floundering on 117. The
biggest total on the visitors� score card was �extras� which
accounted for 30. A second defeat of an otherwise excellent
season for the 1st XI does not mean doom and gloom, quite the
opposite for all sides suffer defeats. The better ones bounce
back immediately and that�s what Murphy�s men will need to do on
Saturday when they host Bovey Tracey at Kensham Park, however as
one renowned �1st XI watcher� proclaimed the morning after the
afternoon before:
�This may be just the �wake up call� that was needed,
for with promotion looking more and more likely the team
need to recognise that they are not invincible and that they
can deal with defeat in the correct manner. Saturday�s game
with Bovey should show us what this side is made of.�
Back at the club�s Mid Devon base though, the defeat for the
2nd XI put a serious dent in their bid to reach the top flight
of 2nd XI cricket next summer. Visiting Cornwood II enjoyed
batting with some sun on their bats knocking up an imposing
246-6. Vice Captain Phil Chappell bagged a brace and long
standing club servant Simon Bailey topped that with 3-78. Bailey
then hit 23, the same total chalked up by skipper Chris Dean
whilst the biggest single contribution came from Chris Acton
with 26 but despite five home batsmen �getting in� and reaching
the 20 run mark, none stuck around to enable a run chase to be
effected and the reply closed on 141. With six to play
Bradninch find themselves three places and 31 points behind 2nd
placed Bovey Tracey, who they visit on Saturday. That now takes
on the mantle of a �must win� game if the 2nd XI are to have any
chance of a place in the Premier Division next season. | 
