Beer's the toast as Horspath 3rd close gap

GRAHAM Beer made it back-to-back half-centuries as second-placed Horspath 3rd closed the gap on Cherwell League Division 5 leaders Thame Town 2nd to a point by getting the better of a draw in their top-of-the-table battle at Church Meadow. Beer, who blasted 65 in last week's draw at Chearsley, this time hammered 66 as Horspath made 211-6 after they were put in to bat. He received good support from Akheam Fox (34), Adrian Manger (34) and James Earnshaw (31) as Ali Thomas took 5-67. Thame were restricted to 160-7 in reply, with Guy Holmes making an unbeaten 51. Horspath now have a 16-point cushion over third-placed Abingdon Vale 2nd, who were held to a draw at Kingston Bagpuize, In next Saturday's final round of games, Horspath entertain mid-table Bledlow Ridge, while Thame visit fourth-placed Cumnor 2nd and Abingdon travel to second-bottom Chearsley. Horspath 2nd's game at home to Banbury 2nd in Division 1 was washed out, while Horspath 4th had reached 94-3 against visitors Bicester & North Oxford 2nd in Division 7 when their game suffered the same fate. Carl Thompson had made an unbeaten 36 at the time.

Posted by: Russ