Aaron Printers Cup final: Covid issues in background for both finalists | 'It's going to be a great test for us as we know Bovey will be a strong team who will be up for it' – Tom Blundell (PCC)

Luke Medlock, who steered Paignton to victory over Torquay in the semi-finals

PAIGNTON 2nd XI have had to deal with Covid problems on the eve of the Aaron Printers Cup final against Bovey Tracey 2nd XI at South Devon CC tomorrow (2pm).

Tom Blundell, the Paignton captain, had already sketched out his team when the club was pinged by Track-and-Trace, which disrupted all the weekend’s cricket.

Paignton had to cancel today’s Premier Division game against Sandford due to incoming pings and two of Blundell’s players were caught-up in the fall-out.

Brothers Sam and Ollie Woodcock, stars of the semi-final win over Torquay, had to drop out after the team had been picked and have been replaced by keeper Sam Glanfield and Joel Ashfield.

It is a disruption Blundell and Paignton could have done without, not that Blundell is unduly worried.

“I think we have a great chance of winning as we have a great team as our one to 11 has match winners throughout,” said Blundell. 

“It's going to be a great test for us as we know Bovey will be a strong team who will be up for it. It should be a good day.”

Bovey Tracey also have Covid issues to deal with as they have to get two sides out on the same day to fulfil a re-arranged 1st XI game held over from earlier in the season.

While Dan Green’s second team are doing battle with Paignton, the 1st X are at home to Hatherleigh. Inevitably on a Sunday there were availability problems, which resulted in three of Green’s team being poached for the firsts.”

"With the firsts having to play their rearranged Covid game we have lost a couple to that, but still have a strong side being put out, which is a positive as a club,” said Green

Green said a big miss for Bovey is the absence of quick-scoring batsman Sam Taylor, who is away with the England under-23 hockey squad.

“Sam’s will be a hard spot to fill,” said Green, a former man of the match in the final when Bovey won it in 2015.

Paignton: Tom Blundell, Luke Medlock, Rory Medlock, Sam Robbins, Sean Kirk, Cole Harford, Carl McFarlane, Jack Harman, Charlie Ward, Sam Glanfield, Joel Ashworth.

Bovey Tracey: Dan Green, Tom Andrew, Brad Causey, G Pitman, H Pitman, Ollir Clifford-Bourne, Sam Harvey, Chris Yabsley, Freddie Ford, Sam Russell, James Bishop.

Umpires: Steve Porter and Ian Birt

Man-of-the-match adjudicator: Marcus Green (Ipplepen CC)

 

 

Bovey Tracey captain Dan Green – a former man of the match in an Aaron Printers Cup final