Tidball Insurance Cup finals day preview | Filleigh looking to go back-to-back | Cornwood using early round performances as motivation

By OLLIE SMITH

CULLOMPTON will be the hosts of Sunday’s Tidball Insurance Cup finals day, as Cornwood and Heathcoat’s 3rd XI, Clyst St George’s 2nd XI, and Filleigh face off. 

Cornwood made it this far thanks to dominant performances against Plymouth Civil Service & Roborough, and Plymouth 3rd XI. 

Their second round win against PCS&R saw them strike at almost 10 an over in the run chase, and their dominant win against Plymouth 3rd XI came in just five overs. 

In their ranks, they boast the second and third top wicket takers in the competition, and a squad that is full of confidence, captain Adam Whiting said: “We have a really balanced team, strong batting and bowling, so we have every confidence going into Finals Day

“We are looking forward to the day, and our performances in the early rounds indicate we have every chance.

“It would be great to bring some silverware back to Cornwood.”

Cornwood’s semi-final opponents are defending champions Filleigh, who overcame North Molton and Sandford in the earlier rounds. 

Filleigh defeated Sidbury in last year’s final, and this year it’s the Buckley family who have helped them progress to this stage. 

Captain, Albert Buckley, held his nerve in a six-run win against Sandford, whilst Peter and Arthur are both fifth on the batting and bowling charts. 

The other semi-final sees Heathcoat 3rd XI take on Clyst St George’s 2nd XI. 

The man to watch for Heathcoat will be Harry Pryce, who has two destructive knocks to his name in previous rounds, including a six-laden 76 from just 30 balls against Bovey Tracey in round two. 

Clyst St George’s 1st XI took to the field in their own semi-final two weeks ago, and now it’s the turn of the 2nd XI. 

Tiaan Van Der Walt has been the driving force behind their push for silverware. His first game in this year’s competition saw him score 31 from just eight balls, and with the ball he blew away the Cheriton Fitzpaine batters, taking four for one. The next round didn’t see as many runs with the bat, but he still managed a three-wicket haul. 

Stephen Bourke, the Clyst captain, expects finals day to present ‘a big step up in intensity’.

Bourke added: “We’ll need to be sharp from ball one — with bat, ball and on the field.

“Opposition-wise, we’re expecting some quality sides who've all earned their place here, so no easy games. 

“We have already played Filleigh twice this year, so if by chance we meet in the final it should be a great game!”

On CSG’s strengths, Bourke said consistency across the board has been critical

“The top order has given us strong starts and our bowlers have kept things tight,” said Bourke.

“A few key, individual performances have seen us progress comfortably through the first two rounds.”