HORSPATH bid to end their roller-coaster season in a blaze of glory when they take on holders Banbury in the Bernard Tollett Oxfordshire Cup final at Wormsley, near Stokenchurch, tomorrow (3pm). While the Home Counties Premier League campaign was one of ups and downs culminating in a remarkable great escape from relegation on the final day at Great & Little Tew, Will Eason's side have shown far greater consistency in the shorter form of the game. After making the Home Counties Twenty20 finals day for the first time, five wins plus an abandonment and just one defeat saw Horspath top the South Group in the county's new-look T20 tournament to secure their place in the decider at the picturesque Sir Paul Getty's Ground. Looking ahead to the big day, Will said: "We seem for the last five years to have done well in the T20 competitions. Obviously getting to the finals of the Home Counties one was an achievement in itself. "I think the revamped Oxfordshire tournament has been great. We were in quite a strong group and to finish top of it was a really good effort, so hopefully we can win one more and it will be a good way to top of the season." Banbury, Oxfordshire T20 champions for the last two years, booked their place in the final by winning the North Group, and Horspath's skipper is under no illusions about the challenge they present. "They have gone unbeaten through the tournament and are a strong squad," he said. "I think it will be a highly competitive game and we are going to have to play really well to get a positive result." Horspath were on the wrong end of the result when the sides met twice in the league this season, but Will believes that can spur on his side when it comes to tomorrow's game. "The two league games have not gone our way, and we can use that as a motivation," he added. "We have a lot of players who can impact the game in a short period of time. If you look at our record in T20 competitions we have lots of various people who can hit the ball out of the ground. "To play the competition at Wormsley is fantastic for club cricketers, who don't get the opportunity to play there and it makes it more of a spectacle. "I think it will motivate a lot of people playing in such a stunning ground. Hopefully getting the chance to represent the club there, and for me leading the club, we will get the result we are after as well." Horspath's game is preceded by the Wilf Bennett Trophy final between Bicester & North Oxford and Thame Town (11am). The club, who are also to be represented by their under 11 kwik cricket team against Banbury at Wormsley, are running a coach to the game. To book your seat contact Hayden Moon on 07795 966281. The Oxfordshire Cup final forms the first leg of a big double-header for Horspath with the annual Feast Match on Monday (11.15am) when a club side will face the President's XI. Will added: "It is always such an event that when you have been involved with the club for a couple of years you are excited by it. My focus is to get the club side together with the new players to come because you don't get what it's all about until you have been. A lot of people who play in the President's side play each year and would not miss it." All members and friends of the club are welcome to come along.
Posted by: Russ
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