PAIGNTON 3rd XI regained the Brockman Cup after letting it out of their grip for 12 months when they defeated Brixham 2nd XI by three wickets in Friday night's final at Torquay Recreation Ground.

Opener Tim Robinson top-scored for Brixham with 46, but batted until of the last of the 20 overs to get them, in a total of 99 for six.

Paignton finally scrambled home with 10 balls to spare, but only after a struggle as there were times when the chase appeared to be going awry.

Robinson turned the screw with the ball when Paignton batted, taking three wickets in mid-innings while Paignton were stumbling from 48 for two to 79 for six.

A brilliant catch by a tumbling Mark Coish to remove potential dangerman Tom Field helped heap the pressure on Paignton.

Youngster George Benton, run out for 33, kept his end going while things were going wrong at the other.

Captain Mark Ashworth decided to go on the offensive when he replaced Benton at 77 for five and his quickfire 23 put Paignton back on top.

By the time captain Ashworth got out, caught on the boundary by Northcott off Mike Baron, the target was down to six to win, which brother Andy took care off with a couple of lusty blows in the direction of mid-wicket.

Who says low-scoring games can't be exciting? This one certainly was.

It started with a bang thanks to the first-ball dismissal of Brixham opener George Northcott, who rocked back to square-drive Benton and was caught by a diving Trevor Massey at backward point.

Chris Sleep chased a wide he should have left alone, and was caught behind, and when Nathan Way was run-out by a sharp throw from square-leg, Brixham were 34 for three and starting to slow up.

Paignton used youngsters Field (0-15) and Ben Benton (0-20) to good effect with the ball, slowing Brixham to a crawl at times.

Between the tenth and 15th overs, when the accelerator should have been pressed, Brixham scored just 14 runs.

Three run-outs in the last over — Robinson's the first — only emphasised how desperate for runs Brixham had become by then.

Man of the match went to Benton, who got the nod ahead of Mark Ashworth and Robinson.

The trophy was presented by Alison Stanbury, the granddaughter of W S Brockman, who donated the cup for junior cricket back in 1933.

To mark her last appearance at the final — Mrs Stanbury has been attending for more than 20 years as the family's representative — she was presented with a bouquet of flowers.

Mrs Stanbury is moving to Huntingdonshire to live with her daughter. Competition organisers are hoping another member of the Brockman family will keep the link going in 2011.

RESULT

  Brixham 99-6 (T Robinson 46), Paignton 100-7 (G Benton 33, M Ashworth 23; T Robinson 3-29). Paignton bt Brixham by 3 wkts.