A long and distinguished history in the Oxfordshire Cricket Association (OCA) had come to an end at the end of the 1991 season with the switch to the Trinity. With the Trinity merging with the Cherwell League to form a new-look Cherwell League for the 1994 season, the 1st XI had been unable to add to their honours.
The 2nd XI, meanwhile, had twice finished runners-up in their section, before a last chance of glory came in the 1993 2nd XI KO Cup final against Bicester 2nd on the first Sunday in September. And it was one which the side took with David Heritage starring as this short report from the Oxford Mail relates with the young all-rounder turning in a man-of-the-match performance by hitting 71 and then taking 4-34 in a 15-run victory.
The decider in the 20-over tournament was played at Morris Motors' Crescent Road ground - a venue which was regularly used by Oxfordshire for their Minor Counties Championship matches but now, along with the club, sadly no longer exists.
 |
| David Heritage produced man-of-the-match display |
Horspath, skippered by Julian Edwards, had lost prolific runscorers Paul Newell and Morris Honey early on before Tage, with good support from Mick Ridge (28), took the side to 139-7. Bicester, despite a determined 40 from captain and opening batsman Peter Fenn, fell short on 124-8 with Tage well backed up by Paul Davidson (3-23).
Julian recalls: "I was skipper that day and must have won the toss and batted. I can remember Tage getting most of the runs. It was good that we won and good that we had a bit of silverware for the two years we were in the Trinity League even though it was a 2nd XI competition.
"It was the second of our two years in the Trinity League. It was a big move for us to leave the OCA, but it was the right move because we were in the Trinity League at the inception of the new Cherwell League.
"We had a good side. We were second in the first year to Kingston Bagpuize and Aston Rowant pipped us in the second year, but it put us in a strong position to go into the Cherwell League. The Cherwell in the early days then had 1st and 2nd XI sections with four different divisions, and the 2nd XI were in the top division."
The more eagle-eyed of you will have noticed that the scorecard features only 10 Horspath names. Well, yours truly completed the line-up and although I may not have featured with the bat and certainly not with the ball, I played my part alongside the skipper as victory was pulled out of the fire in the semi-final at Dinton.
Julian adds: "We were in big trouble there and managed to get over the line. I can't remember much about it other than we were losing. I think we needed about 120. I was quite low down the order and all of our big guns had got out, and we were eight wickets down. I think I got about 20 not out and Russ stuck with me. I remember we got them with about three balls to spare. I certainly have good memories of winning that match."
Horspath were in Division 3 of the Oxford Times Cherwell League at the time, but rose to the challenge in fantastic fashion to brush aside their top-flight visitors. The hosts posted 223-8 off their 40 overs with Robbie Eason making an unbeaten 73 and his brother, Will, hitting 42 in a fourth-wicket stand of 68 after openers Dick Decaires (33) and Graham Plested had put on a brisk 55.
Tage says: "We were big underdogs, but under the best captain I've played, Adrian Manger, we had a game-plan suited to the Village Cup. We got runs on the board thanks to Ples and Dick giving it a whack early on. Then with Mr Boycott himself (Robbie) playing less shots - although I think he hit a rare six - and with his more aggressive brother (Will) we laid a decent total."
Rowant made a solid start to reach 52 without loss, but then Andy Cummings bowled Chris Watling, and Tage took two wickets in as many balls with the score on 84, including opener Tim Morgan (39). Horspath tightened their grip with Tage completing his five-wicket haul, while Ben Cook and Mark Skelton picked up two wickets apiece as Rowant subsided to 138 all out.
Tage adds: "In the Village Cup I would have been bowling fast and straight as always. We squeezed them from the start with Will and Ginge (Andy Cummings) building scoreboard pressure. Ginge cleaned up the dangerman Chris Watling and then myself, Cookie and Skelly did the rest."
However, Horspath's terrific run in the competition came to an end in the Oxfordshire final when they lost to Oxford Downs. Agonisingly, it was to be the first of four successive county final defeats for the club - including one on a bowlout to Downs.
Posted by: Russ