Wadebridge Men’s A Team has topped the Group 2 North County League for the first time in half a century.
Going into the final matches of the season, Wadebridge lay second, 2.5 points behind Kensey Vale, and with a slightly better shot aggregate. It meant that we needed a good result against Bude while Kensey Vale had to lose against Bodmin.
Wadebridge travelled to Bude, missing four of the regular team. Their places were filled by three B Team stalwarts – Andy Phillips, Trevor Little and David Atfield – and Roger Priestley who had largely stepped down from league matches this season.
They won 5-0, and 67-42, a comfortable margin in the end.
With one side of the equation fulfilled, it all depended on how Kensey Vale had done at Bodmin. 3 points out of 5 would secure them the title and given that the only match they had lost all season was against Wadebridge, that seemed a reasonable ask. Bodmin had already secured third spot, and were unable to catch up to second, so not a lot was at stake for them.
What Bodmin did was win 5-0.
News came through to Bude, and Wadebridge celebrated coming top of the league!
A Team captain Richard Jones said: “A brilliant result for the A team tonight who had a 5-0 away win at Bude to pop Kensey Vale to clinch the Division One North league for the first time in 40 odd years. Now for the [Group 2] play off final next Wednesday to see who advances to the county semi-final of the Nicoll Cup on Sunday 9th August.”