Horspath eye T20 crown on Feast weekend

SKIPPER Will Eason is looking for Horspath to go one better than last year when they face Oxford Downs in the Bernard Tollett Oxfordshire Cup final at Wormsley, near Stokenchurch, on Saturday (2pm).

It's the first leg of a big double-header for Horspath with the annual Feast Match on Monday (11.30am) when a club side take on the President's XI.

Will's side, who went down by 17 runs to Banbury in the final 12 months ago, are aiming to be crowned the county's T20 kings for the first time since 2014. They secured their place in the decider at the picturesque Sir Paul Getty's Ground by topping the South Group with six wins and just one defeat.

Reflecting on the campaign, Will said: "I think in terms of how long the group stages go on for the fact that we finished top is a big achievement in itself. There are some tough teams in there and it asks a lot of people to turn up every week and play on a week day.

"It has also allowed people opportunities to play. A lot of the younger lads have come in and experienced the first-team environment and it's allowed others that were not in form to get back to form and others to come back from injury. I think for seven weeks it is very beneficial and the fact that we have got to the final again this year is fantastic.

Will Eason leads Horspath. Picture: www.sportsshots.org.uk

"Since I have been captain it's a competition we have targetted. We lost last year to Banbury in the final, but we have not lost many games in the Oxfordshire competition over the last three or four years. Our record is very good and it would be great to go to one of the most picturesque grounds in the country and come away with the trophy."

While Horspath may be viewed as favourites after battling hard to secure their Home Counties Premier League Division 1 status, Downs will go into the game on a high after being crowned Cherwell League champions. Will expects James Lauder's side, who were unbeaten in the North Group with six wins and a tie, to provide strong opposition, and believes his men will have to be at their best to lift the cup.

He added: "Downs have had a brilliant year themselves and obviously they have gone through the majority of the season without losing a game, so they have got that winning habit at the minute, which we have in this competition, but not in the league, so it's going to be an interesting game. If we can get in a winning position or a strong position at some stage then we will look to turn the screw. They have some players we know pretty well and we will have to play very well to be the winning side."

Horspath's game is preceded by the Wilf Bennett Trophy final between Banbury and Tiddington (11am).

Attention will then switch to the annual Feast Match on Monday when the President's XI will be captained for the first time by Banbury stalwart Neil Megson, who takes over at the helm from Clive Ricks. Will said: "Clive has done his stint and has done such a good job over the years. He knows what it is all about - a celebration of the club - and the way he gets the President's sides to embrace it won't change with Meggers taking over.

"He has been involved in playing in the President's side, so he is the perfect person to take over. Hopefully we will get the win on Saturday and that will make Monday the more sweeter."

All members and friends of the club are welcome to come along.

Posted by: Russ