It’s back to the 1991 season on this occasion with the spotlight on a wonderful run in the Corinthian Cup competition, a run that began with a June win over Halberton, followed by success against Axminster and Exeter St James before the run ended with an early August Finals Day held at Cullompton where, after seeing off Okehampton in the semi-finals, Bradninch were beaten in the final by United Services Plymouth.
THE 1991 CORINTHIAN CUP
June 12th 1st Round (Away) v HALBERTON
Bradninch won the toss and batted first and, after losing openers Terry Friend (11) and Simon Bailey (2), further wickets fell with the loss of Phil Miles (1) and Chris Acton (2) to leave the innings a troubled 24-4, before the middle order staged a fightback with runs from Paul Nott (15), John Freeman (10) and Derrick Foan, batting at number seven, top scoring with 26. Mike Clarke (8), Tony Allsopp (3) and Rob Gitsham (2) all fell to leave last man, Paul Bastin as the not out batter on 5 with the Bradninch innings closing on 95 all out after 15.4 overs of what could have been a full innings facing 18, 8-ball overs. K Prince was the chief architecht of the Halberton bowling effort with his impressive return being 5-28. Halberton were the restricted to a reply of 76-7 from a full compliment of 16 overs. Chris Acton returned the pick of the Bradninch bowling effort with figures of 3-15 from four while the other returns were Paul Nott (2-9 from four), Paul Miles (0-13 from 4) and Tony Allsopp (1-33 from four). Alan Broomfield, batting at six, was unbeaten on 35 at stumps.
July 2nd 2nd Round (Home) v AXMINSTER
Bradninch batted first and lost Simon Bailey without a run being on the board! Derrick Foan was next to go, caught for six and the very next delivery saw John McKinnell dismissed for a rare duck to leave the home side 9-3. Paul Nott joined Chris Acton and they took the score to 56 before Nott was bowled with his score on 18. David Miles took over and, with the total on 92, Acton was bowled, but not before he had scored a 64-ball 47. Miles was joined by Mike Foan and the pair were the unbeaten batters at the close on scores of 20 and eight respectively leaving Bradninch closing on 110-5. The ‘did not bat’ home players were Richard Money, Vic Ebdon, Paul Bastin and Tony Allsopp. For Axminster, the pick of the bowling returns was the 2-15 from four overs from P Garner. Once again, the Bradninch bowlers managed to ensure that there was to be further progress in the competition as Axminster were all out for 76. All four of the home bowlers claimed at least one wicket with the respective returns being Tony Allsopp (3-18 from four), Vic Ebdon (2-18 from 4), Chris Acton (2-18 from 4) and Paul Nott (1-18 from 3.7 overs). C Atkinson opened the Axminster batting effort and he top scored with 30, but the only other double figure score was the 11 scored by number six bat Phil Spong.
July 25th Quarter-final (Away) v EXETER ST JAMES
Playing at Bonfire Field, Topsham, Bradninch batted first and lost Terry Friend (run out 4), Chris Acton (9) and Simon Bailey (run out 3). Derrick Foan was dismissed for 19 to leave the innings delicately on 43-4. Rob Acton, batting at five, was joined by Chris Hatherley and the pair added 83 in just overf half an hour! Hatherley was eventually dismissed for a 26-ball, four boundary 33 and that left Paul Miles to join Acton for the dying embers of the 18 8-ball overs. Miles was not out two but it Rob Acton who proved to be the undoubted ‘star of the batting show’ as he trooped off unbeaten on 50 scored from just 34 balls, hitting four sixes and two fours as Bradninch closed on 131-5. At the close Exeter St James were eight wickets down with 100 runs on the board. Davaid Evans and Kevin Green both scored 12 for the home side and two other batters each hit 11 while Paul Nott led thre Bradninch bowling effort with a superb return of 4-21 from his four overs (8-balls per over). The other bowling returns were Chris Acton (2-20 from 4), Will Dines (2-24 from 4) and Chris Hatherley (0-25 from four).
August 4th Semi-final (played at Cullompton) v OKEHAMPTON
Batting first, Bradninch lost openers Terry Friend (0) and Derrick Foan (1) and then John McKinnell and Chris Acton who were both sent packing without troubling the scorers to leave the innings wobbling on 14-4! Chris Hatherley then joined Rob Acton and, for the second Cornithian Cup tie in a row, the pair put together a ‘match defining’ partnership. The pair took the total to 77 when Hatherley fell for 22. Paul Nott joined Acton and the latter continued to despatch the ball to all corners of the ground. Acton hit three sixes and nine fours before he was adjudged to be leg before, scoringa 77-ball 70 to leave the total then on 110-6. Two runs later Nott was out for eight leaving Paul Miles (9) and Simon Bailey (10) to see Bradninch to a close of 130-7. Willl Dines and Richard Money were the two who did not bat. M Furniss (4-17) and G Dodden (2-27) were the most succesful of the Okehampton bowlers. G Howard (15) and F Williamson (12) were the only Okehampton batters into double figures as their team was bowled out for 62 in 12 overs. Chris Hatherley was the ‘star’ of the bowling effort with a superb return of 7-15 from four. Hatherley also had a hand in an eight wicket as it was his catch that gave Will Dines the second of his wickets – a Terry Friend catch gave Dines (2-20 from three) his first wicket. The other Bradninch bowling returns were Paul Nott (0-2 from one), Chris Acton (0-5 from two) and Simon Bailey (0-11 from two).
August 4th Final (played at Cullompton) v UNITED SERVICES PLYMOUTH
Batting first, Bradninch lose openers Terry Friend and Derrick Foan for four and two respectively before Rob Acton (32) and Paul Nott (30) gave the innings some impetus. Wickets continued to fall with the loss of Paul Miles (18), Chris Hatherley (6), John McKinnell (0) and Simon Bailey (1) leaving Chris Acton as the not out batsman with two to his name and the Bradninch innnings closed on 107-8. The two players who did not bat were Will Dines and Richard Money. United Services Plymouth sealed a five wicket success with two of the 8-ball overs to spare. Opener RT Love top scored with 48 while Chris Acton, with 3-16 from his four overs, had the pick of the Bradninch bowling returns.