Fab four wins bridged four-year gap for a Horspath full house

HORSPATH'S splendid full house of wins last weekend prompted discussion as to when the club had previously achieved the feat.

Well, a search of the archives reveals it was four years ago on August 13, 2016 - coincidentally today's date.

The 1st XI, captained by Will Eason, pulled off a thrilling two-wicket win at Aston Rowant in Home Counties Premier League Division 2 on the way to being crowned champions that season. Chasing Rowant's 199 all out with the wickets shared between Rameez Raja (3-36), Lloyd Belcher (3-39), Mark Skelton (2-34) and Adam Price (2-39), Horspath were in trouble at 42-4.

But then Price took the attack to Rowant with 59 off 62 balls, dominating a fifth-wicket stand of 75 with Shahbaz Ali, who grafted away to turn the game around. After Price departed, Shahbaz, a master of a run chase, stepped up a gear to finish unbeaten on 61 from 121 deliveries and see Horspath home at 200-8 with four balls to spare.

The 2nd XI were in Cherwell League Division 1 that season - and it was a familiar tale with Dominic O'Connor starring with a brilliant unbeaten century to secure a thumping nine-wicket home win over Long Marston.

Highlights of Dom's dazzling innings can be accessed above. They show that after Long Marston posted 201 all out, he hammered 102 not out from 135 balls with 21 fours. O'Connor played the leading role in an opening stand of 165 with Joey Todd, who made 59 from 114 deliveries. Dan Todd (18no) then joined O'Connor to see Horspath secure victory at 202-1 off 44 overs. Jehan Mohammed had taken 3-41 in the Long Marston innings, while skipper Jack Biggs picked up 2-22 and Ed Oakley claimed 1-25 from nine overs.

The 3rd XI recorded an emphatic five-wicket home win over Kingston Bagpuize to move up to second in Division 5 - the position they would finish in at the end of the season to claim promotion.

Bagpuize were shot out for 132 as James Earnshaw picked up 3-11, Graham Beer 2-15, captain Robin Pykett 2-18, Ceri Holmes 2-31 and Adeel Rehman 1-23. Holmes then made 35, before Beer (29no) saw Horspath home at 136-5 off 25 overs.

The 4th XI, under Carl Thompson's captaincy, completed the clean sweep with an impressive eight-wicket win at Shipton-under-Wychwood 3rd in Division 7.

Trevor Spindler took 5-58 as Shipton were bowled out for 214, with Ross Handley (2-25), Jahan Swane (1-29) and Greg Handley (1-39) the other wicket-takers. Horspath chased down the target with ease as David Wells (77), John Perkins (67) and Derek Watts (43) tucked into the Shipton bowling to clinch victory on 215-2 from 39.4 overs.

Here's hoping it's not another four years until the next full house . . .

Posted by: Russ