Belcher backs Horspath to shine on the road to Lord's

SKIPPER Lloyd Belcher believes Horspath are capable of having a real crack at the national rounds of the Voneus Village Cup after his side were crowned Oxfordshire champions. 

Horspath players past and present celebrate

The club are now eagerly awaiting the draw for the last 32 - which is due to be announced at midday on Wednesday - to take the next step on the road to Lord's on June 20.

It comes following their 80-run home win over Aston Rowant - their first success in the county final for 42 years. 

Among those watching on Sunday were club president Denis Walker, secretary Max Eason, Gordon Hamilton and David Cummings - all members of Horspath's last Oxon-area winning side in 1979. 

Speaking after the game, Lloyd said: "It's brilliant. I am overwhelmed at the moment. It means a lot to so many people - some people I have not even met - and it means a lot to me. 

"I think this is the first time I have played in the competition, and for it to be 42 years since the last time we won it, is such a long time. We have been in finals and unfortunately lost them, so it's nice to get that weight of our shoulders. I wanted to win things when I became captain, and to win every competition I play in. It's good to tick one off the list." 

Asad Rafiq with Max Eason and Gordon Hamilton

Looking ahead, he added: "Now we want to get to Lord's. That is what I think we can do. I think every game we have played we are pretty confident we can win with the team we have and the brand of cricket we play. 

"I feel the 11 that played today and the 11 that played last week shows that among our first-team squad we have great depth with experienced players and youthful players coming through. Whatever competition we are in everyone that steps on to the pitch can win us a game of cricket. 

"Before the first game it was our intention to win the Oxfordshire area, and now we have done that we want to go as deep in the competition as we can." 

Horspath's win over Rowant was convincing in the end, but it came after the hosts were struggling at 80-5. However, Tom Coleman (76no) and Patrick Foster (58no) then shared an unbroken sixth-wicket stand of 117 to take the home side to 197-5 off 40 overs. 

Joy for Jehan Mohammed

Lloyd commented: "I thought we were in a lot of trouble. Before we started the game our target was 200 and when wickets kept falling we adjusted that to 160, but Foster and Coleman played incredibly well together. They did everything asked of them and set us up. We knew that with our bowling attack anything above 140-160 we could defend that. 

"They both complimented each other very well. When the wickets fell we got the word to Coleman to bat through. We thought if one person got 80 it would give us the chance to win the game, and Foster played the way we knew he can do and has done for years." 

With the runs on the board, Horspath's bowlers stepped up to the plate to blow away Rowant's top order as the visitors collapsed to 29-5. 

Asad Rafiq led the way with a stunning spell of 3-23, and the captain, who took 2-19 himself, said: "It was the same as in the semi-final. We put our trust in him. Games like this bring the best out of him and he rises to the occasion." 

Foster also picked up 2-19, while Jehan Mohammed took 2-28 as Rowant were bowled out for 117, and Lloyd added: "Foster bowled slow swingers, and he was class. In general we feel we have one of the best attacks in the league at defending any total, so we were confident."

Posted by: Russ