HORSPATH are gearing up for another Oxfordshire T20 campaign with their opening game in an expanded Hartwell Senior Cup at Challow & Childrey next Tuesday (June 20).
The competition will feature 12 teams this season compared with 10 last term with 2022 Wilf Bennett Trophy finalists - winners Shipton-under-Wychwood and runners-up Brackley - promoted to the premier tournament.
There is no relegation from last season's standings, although this could be introduced in future years depending on the number of entries.
In another change for 2023, semi-finals have been reintroduced into the format.
With the sides divided into two pools of six based as much as possible on geographical location, Horspath, last year's runners-up, have been placed in Pool 1.
Following the opener at Challow, the club then have a run of three home games against Cumnor, Oxford and Tiddington before completing their programme at Aston Rowant.
The Pool 1 winners and runners-up then go forward to the semi-finals on August 1 when they will face their opposite counterparts from Pool 2, which consists of champions Banbury, Bicester & North Oxford, Brackley, Cropredy, Oxford Downs and Shipton-under-Wychwood.
The semi-final winners will then do battle at Wormsley on Sunday, September 17.
With the Oxfordshire Cricket Board continuing to operate a two-tier competition to provide smaller clubs with an increased opportunity to play at the iconic venue on finals day, the Wilf Bennett Trophy this season features 10 teams.
HORSPATH FIXTURES
June 20 v Challow & Childrey (a); June 27 v Cumnor (h); July 4 v Oxford (h); July 11 v Tiddington (h); July 18 v Aston Rowant (a).