Traditions maintained as runs flow at Horspath Feast match

RUNS flowed as freely as the beer taps as the traditional Horspath Feast match returned following a one-year hiatus. 

Restrictions relating to social gatherings during the coronavirus pandemic in 2020 meant the fixture didn't take place last year. 

Horspath and the President's XI line up

But following the enforced break it was back and, thankfully, it seems some things hadn't changed from the customary warm welcome to the lavish lunch with glasses swiftly recharged throughout the day. 

Out on the pitch, though, it appeared one thing was different with a pink ball fizzing around the Recreation Ground (it transpired the club had a greater number of the lighter-coloured variety left at this stage of the season than the usual red ball). 

It may have looked somewhat out of place in this long-standing fixture - especially in the bright September sunshine which blessed the day. However, with the assembled gathering bolstered by those of advancing years - and deteriorating eyesight - a pink ball had its pluses. 

Horspath's bowlers were certainly happy with it as they took early wickets to reduce the President's XI to 26-2 after they had elected to bat. 

Will Eason leaves the field with Richard Hart

Dinton's Jamie Perkin was in sparkling form, though, and he put on 61 for the third wicket with Stokenchurch's Chris North, before three wickets went down for 13 runs to leave the President's XI on a perilous 100-5. 

Lloyd Belcher struck twice, while Patrick Foster also enjoyed success ahead of his run in the London Marathon on October 3 in aid of the Mintridge Foundation - a charity dedicated to enhancing life skills in young people through sport. Perkin was among those to fall for 71 off 55 balls, which included ten fours and three sixes. 

The task of reaching lunch without further loss was successfully achieved by Aston Rowant all-rounder Wes Morrick and Great Brickhill's James Clark, who took the President's XI to the interval at 159-5. Morrick was especially fluent, going into the break unbeaten on 53. 

Members, guests and sponsors were then treated to an excellent and extremely convivial lunch prepared by the club's chef Hayden Moon, of the esteemed food company Moon's Catering Services. 

Horspath sponsors with chef Hayden Moon

Entertaining speeches followed by Max Eason, on behalf of the club, and Banbury's Neil Megson, captaining the opposition for Horspath president Denis Walker. 

After umpires Bob Chamberlain and Derek Watts got the game back under way, Morrick added just four more to his total before falling for 57 from 60 deliveries with 11 boundaries as Swapnil Kulkarni picked up the wicket, making it 168-6. 

Clark kept the scoreboard ticking along to make 38, before former Banbury seamer Liam Manley blasted 36 off 24 deliveries against his old club to allow the President's XI to post 244-9dec off 41 overs. 

Manley then claimed an early wicket, but Pete Ades and Sulaiman Hussain rattled up rapid half-centuries to set Horspath on their way, before both retired not out. 

Horspath's ladies. Pictures: Rob Judges

Hussain cracked 16 fours as he raced to an unbeaten 67 from 37 balls, while Ades plundered 11 fours and a six in an undefeated 57 from 42 deliveries. 

Kulkarni, with a run-a-ball 45, and Belcher, with 46 from 34 deliveries, carried on where they left off as Horspath steamed towards their target, keeping scorer Mick Warren on his toes. 

With the light fading rapidly, even two wickets for Horley veteran Richard Hart couldn't stop Will Eason's side. Victory was secured at 247-4 off 29.1 overs when a reverse sweep sent the pink ball flashing through the darkness and across the outfield to the boundary in front of the clubroom. 

The curtain had come down on another season, with the celebrations going on into the evening.

Posted by: Russ