Defeat plunges Horspath into relegation zone

HORSPATH plummeted into the Home Counties Premier League Division 1 relegation zone following a seven-wicket defeat at Tring Park. The loss saw Will Eason's side plunge from sixth to ninth in the table, and now they stand five points below Slough, whom they entertain in a crunch clash next Saturday. Having been put in to bat, Horspath again found runs hard to come by as they were restricted to 156-9 from their 50 overs. Opener Robbie Eason carried his bat for an unbeaten 65, but he received little support at the other end. Horspath had just one on the board when Jamie Stead was caught behind by James Hawkes off AJ Woodland. And it was 32-2 when James Fitzjohn fell in similar fashion off the bowling of Michael Payne for ten. Skipper Will Eason promoted himself up the order in a bid to boost the side's fragile batting. He put on 45 for the third wicket with brother Robbie, before he was caught behind off Payne for 22. Tom Cosford then holed out to Woodland in the deep off Michael Haw, leaving Horspath 82-4. Mark Jefferson hit a breezy 21 before he was caught by Rory Criddle off Haw to make it 120-5, and five runs later the same pair combined to account for Stephen Green. Mark Skelton, making his first 1st XI appearance of the season, became another victim for Haw (4-38) with Luke Coleman-Ohrynowksy taking the catch as Horspath stumbled to 135-7. With the overs running out, Jamil Faruq hit 14 off 11 balls, including one huge six, before he was bowled by Simon Stanway to leave Horspath 151-8. Two runs later, Ian Slatcher was caught and bowled by Stanway, and when the close came Robbie Eason was undefeated from 136 balls, which contained three fours. It was the second time Robbie had carried his bat against Tring this season, having hit an unbeaten 84 in the 53-run win over the Hertfordshire club back in June. Horspath posted 265-4 on that occasion, but their total this time looked below-par and so it was to prove. Will Eason gave them hope by having Andrew Dixon caught behind by his brother to make it 8-1. But then Liam Gough and AJ Woodland put on 78 for the second wicket, before the latter was also caught behind off Skelton for 30. Payne then joined Gough to take the score on to 123. He had made 23 when he became Robbie's third victim behind the stumps after he edged a delivery from left-arm spinner Adam Krol, making his first XI appearance since playing in the corresponding fixture two years ago. There was to be no further success for Horspath, though, as Gough and Coleman-Ohrynowksy took Tring to victory at 160-3 with 7.3 overs to spare. Gough, the son of former England fast bowler Darren, was unbeaten on 76 from 126 deliveries with eight fours.

Posted by: Russ