Devon Cricket Board - Woodcock plays down favourites tag in Brockman Cup final

Woodcock plays down favourites tag in Brockman Cup final

PAIGNTON captain Jason Woodcock won’t have it that his side are favourites to lift the Brockman Cup in Friday night’s final against Abbotskerswell at Torquay Recreation Ground (6pm).

South Devon were crushed in the second round by 80 runs – Dan Wolf setting a new competition best score of 144 not out.

Brixham proved tougher in the second round, pushing Paignton all the way before losing by 12 runs.

Devon U17 and Lions batsman Wolf, who got 20 against Brixham, looks in good nick for the final having made a maiden Devon League Premier Division ton against North Devon last Saturday.

The Paignton side is high on Premier experience – skipper Woodcock, keeper Liam Talbot and batter Mark Ashworth have clocked up hundreds of games between them – so the favourites tag comes naturally.

Woodcock doesn’t see it that way and believes the old heads in the side will stop the youngsters getting carried away.

“If you look at Abbots’ team there are three or four current 1st XI regulars in there, not old boys like us,” said Woodcock.

“There could be a danger our younger players may be a bit complacent, but the older guys in the side will stamp on anything like that pretty quickly.

 “Dan Wolf is having a good season – and it is great to see a lad still eligible to play in the South Devon Youth League U17 Division doing so well.

“He doesn’t score runs in every game though and that should not be forgotten.

“I look at the Abbots side and see players like Charlie Hill, Charlie Mitchell, Aron Owen and others – all decent cricketers.

“It looks to me like two well-matched teams, which is what you want in a final.

”Abbots cruised past South Brent in round one – Paignton had a bye – and saw off Stokeinteignhead in round two.

Ipplepen were thrashed by eight wickets in the semi-final – Charlie Hill hitting 67 as Abbots chased 120 to win with an over to go.

Skipper Charlie Mitchell believes Abbots’ ability to keep it tight in the field is their strength going into the final.

 “Bowling is our team strength, keeping the other side to as few as possible to give ourselves smaller targets,” said Mitchell.

Abbots also have youth on their side – Paignton’s plethora of over 40s might not be so sharp in the field – and know they can beat Paignton from previous experience.

 “We met in the semi-finals with similar teams last year and on that occasion we were the winners,” said Mitchell.

 He added: “ I think it will be a close game. Having lost in the final last year, this time we really want to win it.”

History is on Paignton’s side as they have won the last three Brockman finals they have appeared in: 2008 (v Brixham), 2010 (v Brixham) and 2013 (v Lustleigh).

Abbots were beaten finalists last season when they went down by 21 runs to Dartington & Totnes.

 With seven wins to their name in finals – and a defeat by Brixham in the tied final of 1995 – Paignton need one more won to equal Barton’s record of eight successes. No one else has won more.

 The last time Abbots won the Brockman Cup was 1985 when Don Hewitt was man of the match in a 33-run win over Torbay Police.

Abbotskerswell: Charlie Mitchell, Charlie Hill, Gareth Penrice, James McMurray, Aaron Owen, Connor Adams, Greg French, Craig Hawkins, Matt Beasant, Elliott Adams, Johnny Joseph.

12th: Owen Penrice Paignton 3rd XI: Dan Wolf, Jason Woodcock, Liam Talbot, Harry Ward, Mark Ashworth, Tom Blundell, Chris Smith, Tony Medlock, Charlie Slough, Louie Slough, Sam Woodcock.

 Umpires: Graham Pascoe & Roger Tolchard Man of the match adjudicator: Mark Faulkner (Chelston & Kingskerswell CC).

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