By CONRAD SUTCLIFFE
THERE could be an unusual twist to the Brockman Cup final on Sunday if Ipplepen 2ndXI get through to the final at Torquay Recreation Ground.
For the first time in the history of the competition, which started way back in 1933 when the Old Manorians were the winners, the cup has a sponsor.
The sponsor is Valeport Ltd, the marine engineering and electronics manufacturers based in Totnes, whose boss is Matt Quartley.
That’s the same Matt Quartley who top-scored with 37 for Ipplepen in the win over Bovey Tracey that booked Ipplepen’s in the competition’s first finals day, which he will be playing in.
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the restrictions placed on cricket during May, June and July, Brockman Cup officials had to squeeze the traditionally mid-week competition into August and early September.
Midweek dates were out as it was starting to get dark well before matches would finish around half-past eight.
Another first for the competition is playing both semi-finals and the final on the same day as a festival.
Torquay did host an August cup final day back in the late 1950s when the Narracott and Brockman Cup finals were played one after the other.
Cup officials had hoped to play both semi-finals and the final at Torquay, but realised fairly quickly the chances of getting 120 overs played before the light faded were slim.
An offer from Paignton to host one of the semi-finals had already been made and was gladly accepted.
If Quartley is going to play in the afternoon final, Ipplepen will have to defeat Paignton at Queen’s Park in the morning (11am) semi-final.
The other semi-final, also an 11am start, is on the Recreation Ground between Torquay and Lustleigh.
The final is due to start at 3pm. Mrs Angela Glendenning, a grand-daughter of William Brockman who donated the cup all those years ago, will present the solid silver trophy to the winning captain after the final.
