
BOVEY Tracey will be aiming for a fourth successive win in the Aaron Printers Cup final in Sunday’s showdown with Torquay & Kingskerswell at Stokeinteignhead CC (2pm).
Dan Green’s side started their winning streak in 2021 with an 11-run win over Paignton.
Torquay – in the pre-merger days – appeared on course for victory over Bovey Tracey in the 2022 final before late interventions from Charlie Hill and Ollie Clifford-Bourne swung the game the other way.
Last man Clifford-Bourne smashed fifth ball of the final over for six to win the game by one wicket and earn himself the man-of-the match award.
Skipper Green was man of the match in last year’s final for a 25-ball half-century that helped steer the side to a six-wicket win over Ipplepen.
With eight wins in finals since 2007 – Dartington & Totnes were dispatched by six wickets at Paignton CC – Bovey have been the dominant force in the competition in the modern era.
Only Barton with 12 wins between formation year in 1951 and 2018 have won carried off finals. Cockington Corinthians share joint billing in second place with Bovey Tracey on eight. No team has won more than two successive finals.
Torquay have had four wins in the competition, most recently in 2005 when Adam Last hit the winning runs in a six-wicket victory over Barton. The first of their four previous wins was in 1978.
Two previous attempts to play the final at South Devon, the competition’s home since 2012, were thwarted by either bad weather of the fixture congestion that followed.
Finding a ground to play the final on has been a headache for competition organiser Conrad Sutcliffe, who was ‘delighted’ when Stokeinteignhead came to the rescue.
“The final should have been played on a Friday night by the third week of July – and when that did not happen we were in trouble,” said Sutcliffe.
“Friday nights were no longer possible as we were a month past the longest day then and light was becoming a problem.
“And my work commitments, coupled with the virtual lack of a committee, ruled out a Sunday until now.
“Finding a Bank Holiday Sunday venue was a headache as most clubs in the area had arranged either a match or a social event.
“When Stokeinteignhead said they could host the final I was delighted and relieved at the same time.”
When the competition started in 1951 as a mid-week league competition with a play-off final between two divisional winners, it was known as the J V Narracott Cup. Founder Jimmy Narracott ran a building company as well as a works cricket team.
One of Sutcliffe’s predecessors as cup organiser was the late Geoff Setter, who had a long and distinguished playing career with… Stokeinteignhead.
“Geoff was a tall, elegant opening batsman – he always reminded me of the actor Christopher Lee kitted out in cricket whites – who formed a little-and-large opening partnership with Cyril Wills,” said Sutcliffe.
“I can remember playing against them nearly 50 years ago on one of Stokeinteignhead’s old ground, the one with a ruddy great tree inside the boundary.
“Call me sentimental if you like, but it is nice that the link between Stokeinteignhead and the competition has been revived.”
A temporary bar will be available for spectators during the match.