RECORD-breaking Ipplepen 2nd XI regained the Brockman Cup with a 28-run win over Babbacombe in a high-scoring final at Torquay Recreation Ground.

The game was a re-run of last year’s final between the same antagonists, only with a different outcome. Ipplepen got to take away the Brockman Cup, which is sponsored by Medlicott Cars.

Ipplepen’s total of 189 for three – platformed by Toby Holroyd belting 74 off 33 balls – was a new record score in the final. The previous best of 187 for one was set by Abbotskerswell against Brixham in 2018.

At one stage it looked like Holroyd was going to ink himself into the record books twice over by completing a finals night ton, such was his destruction of the Babbacombe bowling.

No one has previously scored a century in a Brockman Cup final since the competition started back in 1933. That would have been one record gone.

And no one has scored more than one century in any round of the competition before. Holroyd made one against Stoke Gabriel in the 2023 semi-final on the same ground. That would have been two records gone.

While Holroyd was hitting out at one end – four of his five sixes were clouted off the bowling of Dan Western – Hugo Denman was ticking over at the other.

Denman may have been less flamboyant – four fours, no sixes – but his contribution of 44 and stands of 111 with Holroyd and 71 with Warrick Green were crucial in their own way.

Holroyd was finally caught on the boundary by Harry Stubbs to give Dan Passmore a wicket.

Veteran Jeff Heath came and went for a handful of runs, which afforded Babbacombe a brief respite. But not for long.

Warrick Green, the 15-year-old son of former Torquay all-rounder Marcus Green, clubbed four more fours and two sixes as Babbacombe chased leather to the bitter end.

Ipplepen know a thing or two about Brockman Cup finals – this was their third in a row and fourth in six years – and were well aware that scoreboard pressure hits sides batting second.

Babbacombe’s reply of 160 for nine was an unwanted record for a team batting second that did not win. Ipplepen’s 143 all out this time last year was the old record.

There were runs for Rob Redding (21), Aidan Lightowlers (32), Nathan Snape (19) and Western (16), but not enough big overs that turn games. Western and Paul Sutherland taking 20 off an eight-ball over from Dom Durman was as good as it got.

Three-wicket spells by Steve Bowden (3-25) and Bradley Aldridge (3-14) helped keep Babbacombe in check.

“Steve Bowden's spell was key for us, then Bradley Aldridge's brilliant first over killed the game off completely,” said Ash Harvey, the winning captain.

The solid silver trophy was handed over to winning captain Harvey by Angela Glendenning, who is the last surviving granddaughter of competition founder W S Brockman.

Man-of-the-match, picked by Devon CCC’s performance director Tim Western, went to Holroyd.

Harvey said if there was a runner-up for man-of-the-match he knew who would have earned it.

“Toby's innings had huge impact on the game and, because of it, I felt we were probably 30 above par,” said Harvey.

“Warrick's innings really made sure we got a great total on the board after things slowed down when Toby got out.”