Gary Chappell skippered his team to a second Premier Division success in three years – in 2022 it was as skipper of Bradninch CC and now, in 2024, it as skipper of Bradninch & Kentisbeare CC.
Here we take a look at how the 2024 Tolchards Devon League was won…………………………………
Saturday, May 4, AWAY v Plympton Won by 7 wickets
Plympton 102 (33 overs), B&K 106-3 (16.2 overs)
Josh Farley returned impressive figures of 4-22 and then Tim Piper (41) and Dan Hardy (28) guided their side to an opening day win.
B&K: Gary Chappell (Captain), Justin Wubbeling (wicketkeeper), Tim Piper, Mitch Pugh, Dan Hardy, Yuvraj Singh, Eliot Acton, Josh Farley, Jon Triner, Andrew Buzza and Ross Lawson.
Saturday, May 11, HOME v Cornwood Lost by 94 runs
Cornwood 192ao (44.3 overs), B&K 98ao (23.1 overs)
Four bowlers; Andrew Buzza, Jon Triner, Mitch Pugh and Dan Hardy each claimed two wickets and then only Mitch Pugh (46), Darren Paul (15) and Eliot Acton (15) managed to get into double figures.
B&K: Eliot Acton (captain), Justin Wubbeling (wicketkeeper), Tim Piper, Mitch Pugh, Dan Hardy, Yuvraj Singh, Jon Triner, Andrew Buzz, Will Squire, Darren Paul and Connor Carthew.
Saturday, May 18 AWAY V Sidmouth Won by three runs
B&K 158-7 (35 overs), Sidmouth 149-7 (35 overs)
A rain affected contest reduced to 35 overs per side and then Sidmouth ultimately having a revised target of 153 in 35 overs. Tim Piper (47), Jon Triner (34), Gary Chappell (21) and Theo Lamey (20) all chipped in to the B&K batting effort and then all but one of the seven bowlers to turn their arm over, claimed a single wicket.
B&K: Gary Chappell (captain), Justin Wubbeling (wicketkeeper), Tim Piper, Mitch Pugh, Dan Hardy, Yuvraj Singh, Jon Triner, Theo Lamey, Nic Bayly, Josh Farley and Darren Paul.
Saturday, May 25 HOME v Heathcoat Won by 5 wickets
Heathcoat 198ao (43.5 overs), B&K 202-5 (35.2 overs)
A Josh Farley ‘fourfer’ and three wickets for Mitch Pugh saw the visiting side bowled out in a ball shy of 44 overs before Tim Piper (46), Yuvraj Singh (36) and Theo Lamey (32), eased the home side to a comfortable victory achieved with almost 15 overs still available.
B&K: Gary Chappell (captain), Darren Paul (wicketkeeper), Tim Piper, Mitch Pugh, Dan Hardy, Yuvraj Singh, Jon Triner, Theo Lamey, Nic Bayly, Josh Farley and Ross Acton.
Saturday, June 1 HOME v Paignton Won by 111 runs
B&K 240-9 (50 overs), Paignton 129ao (38.3 overs)
Half centuries from skipper Gary Chappell, who scored 76 and teenager Jon Triner, who hit 56 together with a knock of 45 from South African youngster Nic Bayly helped see B&K to a commanding total and then Ross Acton tore into the South Devon men on his way to the splendid figures of 6-30.
B&K: Gary Chappell (captain), Justin Wubbeling (wicketkeeper), Tim Piper, Dan Hardy, Yuvraj Singh, Jon Triner, Theo Lamey, Nic Bayly, Josh Farley, Ross Acton and Max Cooper.
Saturday, June 8 AWAY v Sandford Won by 31 runs
B&K 182 (39.3 overs), Sandford 151ao (42 overs)
A low-scoring affair at Creedy Park, the home of reigning champions Sandford, saw B&K bat first and be bowled out for a sub 200 total. Much of the reason for the team getting to 182 was down to a knock of 43 from Gary Chappell with the ‘best of the rest’ being the 28 scored by Josh Farley. When the home side batted, three bowlers each claimed three wicket hauls: Ross Acton (3-37), Mitch Pugh (3-29) and Gary Chappell (3-22).
B&K: Gary Chappell (captain), Justin Wubbeling (wicketkeeper), Tim Piper, Mitch Pugh, Dan Hardy, Yuvraj Singh, Jon Triner, Theo Lamey, Nic Bayly, Josh Farley and Ross Acton.
Saturday, June 15 HOME v Bovey Tracey Won by 8 wickets
Bovey Tracey 115 (39.4 overs), B&K 116-2 (23.2 overs)
An early finish at Kensham Park with Yuvraj Singh (4-22) ripping the heart out of the visitors batting. Faced with a target of 116 to win, B&K needed just over 23 overs to seal an eight-wicket win. Mitch Pugh (46) and Tim Piper (34) led the run chase to the winning line.
B&K: Gary Chappell (captain), Justin Wubbeling (wicketkeeper), Tim Piper, Mitch Pugh, Dan Hardy, Yuvraj Singh, Jon Triner, Nic Bayly, Josh Farley, Ross Acton and Billy Wakeley
Saturday, June 22 HOME v Exmouth Won by 77 runs
B&K 237-8 (50 overs), Exmouth 160ao (41.2 overs)
A magnificent century from opener Mitch Pugh who ended up scoring half of his sides runs! Pugh was fourth out for 1 131-ball, 15 boundary 118. Yuvraj Singh was the another serious contributor with his knock being 41. Josh Farley (3-34) and Andrew Buzza (3-51) were the main wicket takers as B&K wrapped up a sixth successive victory.
B&K: Eliot Acton (captain), Justin Wubbeling (wicketkeeper), Tim Piper, Mitch Pugh, Dan Hardy, Yuvraj Singh, Jon Triner, Andrew Buzza, Nic Bayly, Josh Farley and Ross Acton.
Saturday, June 29 AWAY v Exeter Won by 2 wickets
Exeter 134ao (37.3 overs), B&K 138-8 (42.2 overs)
The halfway mark of the season was reached in a low-scoring, thrilling, affair at The County Ground. All seven bowlers used on the day managed to claim at least one wicket. Skipper Gary Chappell, Mitch Pugh and Ross Acton each bagged a brace and there were single wickets for Jon Triner, Josh Farley, Andrew Buzza and debutant Madawa Warnapura. Eight wickets were lost in what was ultimately a two wicket win with Gary Chappell (16no) and Josh Farley (10no) seeing the side home after earlier contributions from Tim Piper (39), Jon Triner (19) and Andrew Buzza (16).
B&K: Gary Chappell (captain), Justin Wubbeling (wicketkeeper), Mitch Pugh, Tim Piper, Nic Bayly, Madawa Warnapura, Justin Wubbeling, Theo Lamey, Jonathan Triner, Andrew Buzza, Josh Farley and Ross Acton.
Saturday July 6 HOME v Plympton WON by 318 runs
B&K 417-5 (50 overs), Plympton 99ao (21.5 overs)
An extraordinary – indeed ‘record breaking’ day at Kensham Park where, batting first, B&K racked up a record total for the Devon League. The basis for the 400 plus score was a 188-run partnership between Dan Hardy and home debut playing Madawa Warnapura. Hardy top scored with a 99-ball 134 (14 fours and eight sixes), while ‘Bandu’ hit eight fours ands five sixes in his 87-ball 104. Justin Wubbeling cracked a 21-ball 46 and Tim Piper contributed 38. All five of the bowlers to see action bagged a brace; Ross Acton (2-14), Mitch Pugh (2-24), Jon Triner (2-28), Josh Farley (2-4) and Joe Gillett (2-29).
B&K: Gary Chappell (captain), Justin Wubbeling (wicketkeeper), Tim Piper, Mitch Pugh, Dan Hardy, Madawa Warnapura, Theo Lamey, Jon Triner, Josh Farley, Ross Acton and Joe Gillett.
Saturday July 13 AWAY v Cornwood WON by 86 runs
B&K 213-3 (38 overs), Cornwood 141ao (28.5 overs)
A ninth straight win was achieved thanks to a second successive century partnership between Dan Hardy and ‘Bandu’ who scored 91 not out and 57 respectively while Justin Wubbeling with a quick-fire 37 as, in a game that was hit by the weather, B&K batted first and closed on 213-3 after 38 overs. Ultimately, faced with a revised target of 228 from 38 overs, Cornwood were bowled out for 141 in one ball shy of 29 overs. It was third change bowler Josh Farley who stole the headlines with a wonderful ‘fivefer’ – his figures being 5-30 from 5.5 overs. Jon Triner took 3-28 and young Joe Gillett, who opened the bowling, bagged a brace of wickets.
B&K: Eliot Acton (captain), Justin Wubbeling (wicketkeeper), Theo Lamey, Dan Hardy, Tim Piper, Madawa Warnapura, Jon Triner, Josh Farley, Nic Bayly, Will Squire and Joe Gillett.
Saturday, July 20 HOME v Sidmouth MATCH CANCELLED
Rain washed out any chance of play in this fixture which had also been ear marked to be ‘SPONSORS DAY’ at Kensham Park
Saturday, July 27 AWAY v Heathcoat Lost by 35 runs
Heathcoat 173ao (48 overs), B&K 138ao (46.2 overs)
There was to be no ’10-straight-wins’ as the Knightshayes team, who were put into bat first, managed to defend a sub 200 total to win by 35 runs. The home side batted first and were bowled out for 173 in 48 overs. Mitch Pugh claimed 4-25 while two players bagged a brace – Jon Triner (2-28) and Ross Acton (2-41) and there were single wickets for Theo Lamey and Andrew Buzza. What seemed ‘on paper’ at least, to be a straight-forward run chase proved to be anything but as the team slipped to 94-7! ‘Bandu’ top scored with a 107 ball unbeaten 58, but no one was able to stay at the wicket for too long with him. Mitch Pugh, with 18, was the ‘best of the rest’ with the bat.
B&K: Eliot Acton (captain), Dan Hardy (wicketkeeper), Mitch Pugh, Tim Piper, Madawa Warnapura, Theo Lamey, Jon Triner, Josh Farley, Andrew Buzza, Ross Acton and Mark Perrott
Saturday, August 3 AWAY v Paignton Won by 111 runs
B&K 240-9 (50 overs), Paignton 129ao (27.2 overs)
It was back to winning ways – and in some style too – as the South Coast side were beaten heavily on their own pitch. Batting first, B&K were led to 240 by Mitch Pugh (69), Ankit Badwal (36) and Jon Triner, the latter batting at number seven, hit an unbeaten 47 off just 35 balls – hitting five fours and two sixes. There were also no fewer than 40 extras in the final total. Josh Farley, called into action as the third change bowler, claimed another ‘fivefer’ with his return being 5-30 from 5.2 overs while Mitch Pugh claimed three wickets and there was a brace of wickets for ‘Bandu’.
B&K: Eliot Acton (captain), Justin Wubbeling (wicketkeeper), Mitch Pugh, Ross Acton, Josh Farley, Madawa Warnapura, Jon Triner, Ankit Badwal, Sam Franks, Todd Scarce and Harvey Sanders.
Saturday, August 10 HOME v Sandford Won by five wickets
Sandford 209ao (44.3 overs), B&K 212-5 (41.5 overs)
This games was the watched by the largest crowd of the season at Kensham Park with the matchday being deemed the 2024 SPONSORS DAY. Sandford won the toss and batted first and were bowled out for 209 in 44.3 overs. All five of the bowlers called into action by skipper Gary Chappell claimed at least one wicket with the best of the returns being the 3-35 from the skipper, while Ross Acton, Josh Farley and Andrew Buzza each bagged a brace of wickets. With this game being ‘labelled’ by many as the ‘title decider’ – it was skipper ‘Chaps’ who led from the front hitting exactly 100 from 110 deliveries, hitting 17 fours and two sixes. Jon Triner, with an unbeaten 22, was the ‘best of the rest’ in terms of the home batting effort.
B&K: Gary Chappell (captain), Tim Piper (wicketkeeper), Mitch Pugh, Theo Lamey, Madaw Warnapura, Jon Triner, Andrew Buzza, Josh Farley, Ross Acton, Eliot Acton and Will Squire.
Saturday, August 17 AWAY v Bovey Tracey Lost by 37 runs
Bovey Tracey 242-9 (50 overs), B&K 205ao (46.4 overs)
The previous weeks wonderful win over reigning champions Sandford was not followed up with success as the team slipped to a 37-run defeat at Bovey. The home team batted first and closed their 50 overs on 242-9. Dan Hardy, Mitch Pugh, Andrew Buzza and skipper Gary Chappell each claimed a brace of wickets. In the B&K reply, only Mitch Pugh (82) and ‘Bandu’ (38) made any decent contribution with the bat as the side slipped to only a third defeat of the season.
B&K: Gary Chappell (captain), Justin Wubbeling (wicketkeeper), Tim Piper, Mitchell Pugh, Madawa Warnapura, Theo Lamey, Jonathan Triner, Andrew Buzza, Daniel Hardy, Joshua Farley and Mark Perrott
Saturday, August 24 AWAY v Exmouth Won by 9 wickets.
Exmouth 90ao (28.1 overs), B&K 96-1 (17.3 overs)
Champions! A big – and comfortable – success at Exmouth along with results elsewhere and B&K were celebrating being champions at the close of play – and all this with one matchday still to be contested. The home side opted to bat first and were soon in trouble, slipping to 64-5 and then continuing to lose wickets until they were bowled out for 90. Skipper Gary Chappell finished with excellent figures of 3-11 from 5.1 overs while Ross Acton, Mitch Pugh and Josh Farley each bagged a brace of wickets. What was a straight forward run chase was led by the skipper with Chaps unbeaten at the close on 55. Fittingly, the runs that brought up the skippers half century and the title sealing win was a six!
B&K: Gary Chappell (captain), Justin Wubbeling (wicket keeper), Tim Piper, Mitchell Pugh, Madawa Warnapura, Jonathan Triner, Andrew Buzza, Daniel Hardy, Joshua Farley, Ross Acton and Eliot Acton
Saturday, August 31 HOME v Exeter Won by 5 wickets
Exeter 193ao (40.5 overs), B&K 194-5 (28.1 overs)
The 18th and final matchday of the 2024 campaign and the new champions signed off in style, beating the visitors by five wickets. Exeter won the toss and opted to bat first and both Gary Chappell (4-37) and Josh Farley (4-49) claimed four wicket hauls as the home side were bowled out for 193. The run chase saw 33 from the bat of Josh Farley who opened the innings and there was a 34-ball 39 from ‘Bandu’ before the pick of the knocks on the day came in the form of Jon Triner who hit a 54-ball 71, hitting eight fours and four sixes. In this game, 15-year-old Bobby Marsh became the fifth player this season to wear the wicket keepers gloves.
B&K: Gary Chappell (captain), Bobby Marsh (wicketkeeper), Ross Acton, Joshua Farley, Theo Lamey, Madawa Warnapura, Jonathan Triner, Mitchell Pugh, Tim Piper, Ross Lawson, Joe Mcqueenie