Champions Horspath celebrate unbeaten season

Horspath break out the bubbly to celebrate their title triumph

CHAMPAGNE celebrations capped newly-crowned Home Counties Premier League Division 2 champions Horspath's stellar season after the hosts completed the campaign unbeaten. Their final game against Datchet at the Recreation Ground was abandoned due to rain with the visitors having rattled up 265-7.

Horspath may have had the rain to thank for keeping their record intact after opener Gareth Harte hit a brilliant 136, but there was no dampening the home side's spirits. And after receiving the Division 2 shield and pennant from league chairman Martin Phillips, Will Eason's side broke out the bubbly to mark their title triumph, which had seen them finish six points clear of runners-up Oxford.

Eason said: "The hardest thing when you get relegated is to go straight back up and it is a massive achievement by all the players. When you look at the competition in the league to not lose a game to any of them is a brilliant effort. I am very proud of that. It is phenomenal."

Captain Will Eason receives the Division 2 shield from league chairman Martin Phillips

There had been little indication of the flurry of runs that were to come as accurate opening spells from Eason and Pat Foster restricted Datchet to 20-0 from the first ten overs after they had elected to bat. The breakthrough came with Jamil Faruq's introduction into the attack, with Joseph Thomas hitting a delivery from the Horspath seamer straight into the hands of Shahbaz Ali at point, making it 29-1.

But Harte and James Morris then took the score to 106, before the latter was caught at slip by Eason for 25 attempting a reverse sweep off Harrison Ward. Eleven runs later, left-arm spinner Lloyd Belcher had Ben Tyler caught at mid-on by Mark Skelton, before rain at the drinks break saw 35 minutes play lost and the visitors' innings reduced to 48 overs.

Shortly after the resumption, Datchet skipper Steve Naylor was caught at mid-wicket by Stephen Green, making it 126-4. However, Harte and Tom Lambert then put on 84 for the fifth wicket, before the South African opener's superb innings came to an end when he was caught at long on by Skelton off Eason. His runs had come off 121 balls and included three sixes and 20 fours.

Lambert then took up the attack, and with Toby Grant took the score to 241, before the latter was bowled by Faruq for 13. Lambert had hammered 54 from 60 deliveries with two sixes and five fours when he was bowled by Eason in the last over.

Faruq finished with 2-36, Ward 2-54 and Eason 2-61, but Belcher, who picked up 1-26 from his ten overs, was the pick of the attack, taking his tally for the season to 38. With the heavens then opening, it was time to pop the champagne corks and start the party.

Posted by: Russ