Here we take a game-by-game look at how the 2022 season unfolded………
Matchday One AWAY at Hatherleigh (Saturday, May 7)
A seven wicket win to launch the return of the 1st XI to the top division. After winning the toss, the home skipper opted to bat first and it was not until the fourth ball of the 26th over that the team were celebrating a first wicket of the new league term. The wicket came when skipper Gary Chappell had Hatherleigh opener Robert Fishleigh caught behind by wicket keeper Darren Paul. However, from 73-1, the home innings then lost wickets at regular intervals before two wickets in two balls delivered by Eliot Acton left Hatherleigh bowled out for 145 in 49 overs. Gary Chappell returned the extraordinary figures of 5-11 from 10 overs while Eliot Acton’s return was 4-26 from five. Gary Chappell and Josh Farley launched the Bradninch run chase and it was Farley who had the honour of scoring the first run of the new season off a Ninch bat as he took a single off the first ball of the second over. Young Farley also became the first Ninch batsman to be out in the new league campaign when he was bowled for four by the second delivery of the sixth over. Ross Acton took over and helped see the side to 70 when, to the first ball of the 17th over, the skipper was caught and trooped back with a run-a-ball 52 to his name. A seven-wicket win was sealed in the 39th over with Ross Acton finishing things off with back-to-back boundaries. Acton was not out 48 from 103 deliveries when the win was confirmed.
Matchday two HOME versus CORNWOOD (Saturday, May 14)
A three wicket defeat in a low scoring affair at Kensham Park. For the second game running Bradninch lost the toss and this time, the opposition skipper chose to invite the home team to bat first. Wickets fell at regular intervals with the only contributions of note being 43 from Dan Hardy, 30 from Eliot Acton and 28 from Tim Piper as Bradninch were bowled out for 184 in two overs short of the scheduled 50. The home bowlers gave their all, but Cornwood got the winning runs in the final over to take the honours. Gary Chappell, with 2-34 took the bowling honours while four others each claimed a single wicket.
Matchday three AWAY at PAIGNTON (Saturday, May 21)
A second successive loss and just four points banked as the team go down by seven wickets! After winning the toss for the first time in the fledgling season, skipper Chappell opts to bat, but sees his side bundled out for 171 in 50 overs. Two players scored the bulk of the runs with Ross Acton scoring 75 and Mitch Pugh hit 53. Indeed, the only other double figure contribution came from extras (17)! Paignton opener, Indian Under-19 player Divyaansh Saxena then scored an imperious 73-ball century hitting six sixes and 11 fours as Paignton romped home with wickets and overs to spare.
Matchday four HOME versus SANDFORD (Saturday, May 28)
A Mid Devon derby meeting with the men from Creedy Park and their skipper, Richard Foan, won the toss and decided to bat and saw his team reach a very respectable 271-6 in 50 overs. Ross Acton and Mitch Pugh each claimed a brace of wickets. If the home team enjoyed a superb Bradninch batting strip, then the home openers Gary Chappell and Tim Piper certainly did! Chappell hit a 98-ball 109 while Piper faced 118 balls for his 115. Ross Acton then stroked a run-a-ball 35 as Ninch secured an eight win inside 43 overs.
Matchday five AWAY at BOVEY TRACEY (Saturday, June 4)
For the fourth time in five outings, the toss was won by the opposition with the home team inviting Bradninch to bat first. On a day when there was wet weather around the contest was reduced to one of 30-overs a side. Dan Hardy top scored with 34 and there were runs too from Mitch Pugh (26) and Gary Chappell (21) while Eliot Acton chipped in with an unbeaten 15 as Bradninch closed their 30 overs on 132-8. Bovey were always ‘in the chase’ and reached the final over needing 10 runs to win. Mitch Pugh was the bowler and the first three deliveries yielded a two, then a one and a leg bye before, with the fourth ball, Dan Hardy took a catch to end the 46 from 42 balls by Ashley Causey. That all meant six runs were needed from the last two balls and Pugh sent down a dot ball before the final delivery saw just one run scored for Ninch to clinch a thrilling four run victory! Gary Chappell (4-15 from six overs) and Ross Acton (3-12 from six) were the main wicket taking bowlers.
Matchday six HOME versus SIDMOUTH (Saturday, June 11)
A disappointing day at Kensham Park as the home team suffered a 90-run defeat! A fifth toss in six outings was lost and Sidmouth chose to bat first, powering their way to a closing total of 304-6. Mitch Pugh (2-55 from 10 overs) was the most successful of the Ninch bowlers. The run chase reached three figures before a third wicket was lost, but, from 149-3, the score slipped to 195-9 and the last knocking s came when Will Squire was the last man out with the score on 214. Mitch Pugh top scored with 47 and the ‘best of the rest’ were contributions of 39 from Ross Acton, 35 from Gary Chappell and 16 from last man Will Squire.
Matchday seven AWAY versus North Devon (Saturday, June 18)
Another day of inclement weather – though, to be fair, it was only the second time in seven weeks that the weather had been ‘dodgy’. A trip up the Link Road for Chaps and his men and a game at Instow against a top four side. Weather played a key role early on and a ‘vital’ one later as, after restricting the home side to 153-6 from what was then a 37-overs a side contest, Ninch were cruising home towards a revised target of 146 from 27 overs, on 84-1 after only 13 overs and two balls, when the weather intervened for the umpteenth time to consign the contest to a watery grave! In the home side’s labouring to 153-6 off 37, it was Josh Farley who took the bowling honours with a splendid return of 2-17 from seven disciplined overs. Chad Classen also played a key part as he sent down nine overs for just 19 overs and bowled the only maiden of the innings. Tim Piper and Gary Chappell launched the reply and had put 67 on the Instow scoreboard in excellent time when ‘Pipes’ fell for a 33-ball 23. ‘Chaps’ was joined by Mitch Pugh but, shortly after the loss of the first wicket, rain struck to wash away any chance of a result. Skipper Chappell was not out 39 from just 44 balls, hitting two sixes and three fours while Pugh was unbeaten on two from three.
Matchday eight HOME versus Plymouth (Saturday, June 25)
A much-changed 1st XI owing to a stag weekend in Portugal meant that only two of the side that had played seven days before, were in action at Kensham Park. However, led by Chad Classen as stand-in skipper, the home side came mighty close to forcing victory before going down by a margin of four wickets, For the second successive Saturday the weather played its part with Plymouth, later in the game, chasing a revised target. The opposition won the toss for the sixth time in eight games and chose to ask Bradninch to bat and, from what was reduced to an innings of 30 overs, the home batters posted a score of 161-7. Chad Classen (53 from 43 balls) and Ankit Badwal (40 28 balls) gave the side something to defend. Classen then removed batters one and three for ducks and, with Josh Farley also getting an early wicket, Ninch were ‘in the contest’. However, weather played a part and Plymouth were set a revised target of 146 from 27 overs, but they were made to scrap all the way to the line. Indeed, there were just three deliveries left when they did seal a four-wicket win. All the bowlers played their part with Classen, Thom Bunker and Josh Farley each claiming two wickets. The Classen economy of 2.44 per over was bettered only by one other bowler; that was Ankit Badwal with his six overs going for just 14 runs.
Matchday nine AWAY at HEATHCOAT (Saturday, July 2)
A Mid Devon derby and a visit to the home of the reigning champions. After winning the toss and opting to field, Gary Chappell led from the front, finishing with figures of 3-11 from nine overs. Josh Farley (2-12 from eight), Mitch Pugh (2-30 from 6.3), Ross Acton (2-27 from nine) and Chad Classen (1-23 from seven), were the other wicket takers as Heathcoat were bowled out for 98 in 39 overs and three balls. However, that was very nearly enough to win the game as Ninch lost seven wickets on their way to claiming victory. Indeed, it was an unbeaten 20 from Tim Piper and an unbeaten eight from Thom Bunker, the pair coming together with the score 83-7, adding 16 for the unbroken eighth wicket.
Matchday ten HOME HATHERLEIGH (Saturday, July 9)
Buoyed by the win the week before, the team were in no mood to rest on their laurels as they put the visitors, who won the toss and opted to bat, to the sword. It took just 37 overs and four balls for Hatherleigh to be bowled out for just 81. Mitch Pugh (3-12 from seven), Josh Farley (2-9 from five), Chad Classen (2-13 from seven) and Ross Acton (1-26 from 10), shared the wicket taking. Skipper Chaps then raced to a 36-ball half century hitting three sixes and seven fours before he was out. Tim Piper (21 off 18) and Dan Hardy (six runs off one ball faced) closed out a comfortable win.
Matchday eleven AWAY at CORNWOOD (Saturday, July 16)
Cornwood completed a seasons double over Ninch as they won the game by 38 runs, After winning the toss and batting first, the home side closed their 50 overs on 214-8. Chad Classen claimed three wickets and there were two wickets each for Ross Acton and Eliot Acton. Ninch were then bowled out for 176 in 43 overs with only Ankit Badwal (37 off 30) and Ross Acton (32) making any impression with the bat.
Matchday twelve HOME versus PAIGNTON (Saturday, July 23)
Weather played its part in this contest with Bradninch winning the toss, asking Paignton to bat, and restricting the visitors to 222-6 from 40 overs. Then, with more rain arriving, Bradninch were set a revised target of 166 from 25 overs and they got there with an over to spare! In the Paignton innings, the prized wicket of Saxena went to Josh Farley thanks to a smart stumping by Darren Paul. Gary Chappell (3-27) and Charlie Sheen (2-40) were the principal wicket takers. Then, with the revised target set, a run-a-ball 72 from Tim Piper and an unbeaten 28 from Mitch Pugh, helped guide Ninch to victory with one over to spare.
Matchday thirteen AWAY at SANDFORD (Saturday, July 30)
A low-scoring affair at Creedy Park saw Bradninch claim a second successive win, this one by a margin of 25 runs to complete the seasons double over Mid Devon rivals Sandford. The home side won the toss and opted to field and bowled Bradninch out for 176 in three balls shy of 45 overs. Sixty from Gary Chappell and 31 from Ankit Badwal were the main contributions to the Ninch batting cause. Sandford were then bowled out for 141 with three wicket hauls for both Chad Classen (3-41 from 10 overs) and Josh Farley (3-22 from eight).
Matchday fourteen HOME versus BOVEY TRACEY (Saturday, August 6)
After winning the toss and batting, it was contributions from ‘down the order’ that helped lead Bradninch to a close of 266-8 from their 50 overs. Dan Hardy, batting at number five top scored with 62 whilst number seven Chad Classen hit 21 and Ankit Badwal, who faced 25 balls, hit 33. Bovey Tracey were then bowled out for 189 in 41 overs thanks to the combined efforts of Gary Chappell (4-31 from 10), Chad Classen (2-42 from 10), Josh Farley (2-63 from 10) and Mitch Pugh (1-32 from seven).
Matchday fifteen AWAY at SIDMOUTH (Saturday, August 13)
A rare win at Fortfield as Bradninch secured a richly deserved five wicket win. Sidmouth won the toss, opted to bat, and were promptly bowled out for 101 in two balls shy of 36 overs! Josh Farley, brought onto bowl as the third and final change, was the star of the show, returning the eye-catching figures of 4-4 from 4.4 overs – three of which were maidens! Opening seamers Chad Classen and Ross Acton each claimed two wickets whole Mitch Pugh and skipper Gary Chappell each had a single wicket. Bradninch slipped to 802 and then 20-3 with Gary Chappell, Josh Farley and Ross Acton all back in the pavilion. However, an unbeaten 35 from Mitch Pugh and contributions from Eliot Acton (21) and Tim Piper (20), saw the side home.
Matchday 16 HOME versus NORTH DEVON (Saturday, August 20)
North Devon were the latest side to come to Kensham Park and, after winning the toss and opting to bat on what looked another 300-run wicket, were bowled out for 181 in one ball shy of 48 overs. Gary Chappell (3-31), Josh Farley (2-34) and Chad Classen (2-50) were the principal wicket takers. Ross Acton then scored 54 and, with contributions from Gary Chappell (40) and Mitch Pugh (22), as Bradninch sailed to a five wicket win inside 37 overs.
Matchday 17 AWAY versus PLYMOUTH (Saturday, August 27)
An early start (11am) at Plymouth with the home side sportingly agreeing to the earlier start as Bradninch wanted to get away as early as possible to head up to Basingstoke to contest the latter stages of the 2022 ECB Vitality Club T20 Cup. Plymouth won the toss and opted to field and Bradninch posted a very healthy total of 265-9 from their 50 overs. Tim Piper top scored with a 14-boundary 86 and other knocks from Ross Acton (44) and Mitch Pugh (38) helped take Ninch to that post 250 total. Charlie Sheen and Josh Farley then each claimed three wickets and there were two for Gary Chappell as the home side were bowled out for 117 to leave Ninch winners by a whopping total of 148 runs.
Matchday 18 HOME against HEATHCOAT (Saturday, September 3)
In a thrilling conclusion to the 2022 Tolchards Devon League Premier Division title Heathcoat, the reigning champions, pitched up at Kensham Park trailing table-topping Bradninch by just two points and so, this was to be a classic ‘winner-takes-all’ encounter. After winning the toss, Bradninch skipper Gary Chappell stuck the visitors in and they were restricted to a closing total of 175-8 from their 50 overs. Chad Classen claimed three wickets (3-42) and there two (2-27) from Gary Chappell. After losing Tim Piper and Ross Acton, for nought and 25 respectively, Mitch Pugh joined his skipper and the pair settled nerves before Pugh went for a 51-ball 49. Chad Classen all same and went, but not before he had hit a vital 14. Crucially though, Gary Chappell was still there and indeed was there at the end hitting an unbeaten 70 from 95 balls faced with Eliot Acton scoring the winning run off the fourth delivery of the 37th over.
The scenes, after the final run was completed, were truly something to see. It was a wonderful end to a wonderful season – Bradninch – Tolchards Devon League Premier Division champions for the first time in their history!