Horspath Cricket Club News story

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Horspath eye home comfort in Village Cup

13 Jun 2023

HORSPATH will be aiming to make the most of home advantage when they take on Somerset & Avon champions Wembdon in the Voneus Village Cup fifth round on Sunday (1pm).
Two years ago, the club were denied the opportunity to stage a last-32 tie against Ynystawe after being crowned Oxfordshire Group winners when a small area of the Recreation Ground pitch was deemed too wet for play.
That saw the match switched to the Welsh club the following week when Horspath went down to a four-wicket defeat in a feisty encounter despite Patrick Foster hitting a brilliant unbeaten 113 off 75 balls.
It's hoped the weather will be kinder this time, although thundery showers are forecast.
The two clubs have taken contrasting paths to this stage on the road to Lord's with Horspath playing four games, while Wembdon, a semi-rural village near Bridgwater, have had just one outing.
Horspath opened their challenge with an eight-wicket win at the Baldons in the first round with Josh Cummings producing a brilliant spell of 7-14 - still the best figures in the competition so far this season.
The side's only home game to date saw a 94-run victory over Shipton-under-Wychwood with Robbie Eason hitting an unbeaten 51, before skipper Will Eason and Amin Rafiq took four wickets apiece.
Horspath were back on the road for round three where they recorded a 46-run victory at Oxford Downs, last season's Oxfordshire Group winners.
That set up a trip to Tiddington for the county final where Josh Richardson was Horspath's hero with a six off the last ball to snatch a dramatic one-wicket win in a fantastic finish.
Wembdon, meanwhile, were handed walkovers by Shapwick & Polden and Stapleton in rounds one and two.
The West of England Premier League club then beat North Perrott by two runs in a thrilling finish.
Defending 192, which was built on opener Stuart Duerden's 52, Wembdon had reduced the visitors to 189-9 arriving at the last over bowled by captain Daniel Bingham and secured victory with a run out off the third delivery.
Remarkably, Wembdon were then handed a third walkover when hosts Congresbury were unable to raise a side for the regional final.
The Somerset club run five league sides on a Saturday with the 1st XI currently second behind leaders Wellington following a four-run home win over Taunton last weekend.
Bingham (76) and Jack Rich (54) shone in Wembdon's 239 all out, before leg-spinner Harry Everett took 3-32 as Taunton fell short on 235-9.
Wembdon itself is described as home to an Anglican church, a small shop (combined with the post office), a pub - The Cottage Inn - and a small garage.
The prize for the winners is a trip to either Sully Spartans (Glamorgan & Gwent) or Grampound Road (Devon & Cornwall) in the last 16. All supporters are welcome.