Woodhouse Grange take record fourth Davidstow Village Cup title at Lord's

Foxton fight until end in their first final

Yorkshire's Woodhouse Grange have become the Davidstow Village Cup champions for a record fourth time after beating first-time finalists Foxton, of Cambridgeshire, by 19 runs in the 2015 final at Lord's.

Pulling clear of three-time winners Troon and St Fagans in the competition's 44th final, this was Woodhouse Grange's seventh and last day at the Home of Cricket. Next year the club from near York are joining the new North Yorkshire Premier League; sides from that tier of club cricket are ineligible for the Village Cup. It has been quite a love affair.

After winning the toss and electing to bat, Woodhouse Grange's imposing total of 256 for 2 relied on a solid opening stand of 120 between Andrew Bilton (60) and captain Nick Hadfield (64) against some nervy bowling from the newcomers, and an explosive finish from Chris Bilton (65) and Tom Young (40 not out).

Foxton, who had received the backing of England's Joe Root for this game, looked capable of an upset during an entertaining fourth-wicket stand of 87 between Cei Sanderson, who had hit three centuries on the way to the final, and Jeff Douglas (47). Woodhouse Grange used their experience to hold on, however, despite a late assault by Akbar Akhtar (29).

"This was special because we have won the Davidstow Village Cup for an unprecedented fourth time," said Hadfield. "It was a really good game and Foxton played very well. We are delighted and it was just a fantastic weekend."

The teams were delighted to be playing on the same pitch that was used for the County Championship match between Middlesex and Yorkshire.

Andrew Bilton looked a quality player. He had a stint at Yorkshire's academy, and his father Russell had played in two previous Village Cup finals. Strong off his hips and a powerful puller who bats a little like Chris Broad, he made his runs from 71 balls, with nine 4s. 

Hadfield, in his sixth final, provided sturdy support. He had hit a century and three fifties on the way to the final, and this time there were eight fours in his classical 64, from 87 balls.

The breakthrough came in the 24th over, Bilton caught at long-off off David Fagan, an off-spinner who was the pick of the Foxton attack. He had been tweeted by his friend Root on the morning of the match. Hadfield fell to a fine catch by Douglas at backward square-leg.

Woodhouse Grange's innings seemed to then stall for a time, but the finale was spectacular, 103 coming off the last 10 overs. Chris Bilton, like his brother a left-hander but shorter, smashed a six and seven fours in his unbeaten 65 (from 57 balls). It won him the man of the match award. Young was sent up the order and contributed a muscular, unbeaten 40 (two fours, three sixes, off 25 balls).

Foxton's hopes appeared to rest on the shoulders of Sanderson, but Tom Quinn made an early breakthrough, removing Adam Webster, and he bowled a tight spell from the Pavilion End. It is something he can tell his father Steve, who once kicked the winning goal for Featherstone in the 1983 Challenge Cup final at Wembley.

Douglas lived up to his nickname of 'Big J' with a brutish knock of 47 from 40 balls, with three sixes, one that sailed on to the visitors' dressing-room balcony in the pavilion. He liked a bash to midwicket (which was ultimately how he perished), but was also a deft late-cutter.

Akhtar also had some fun, as did off-spinner Chris Suddaby, who took three wickets, but the Yorkshiremen were not to be denied a perfect Lord's send-off.

2015 Davidstow Village Cup final, Lord's:

Woodhouse Grange 256-2, 40 overs (CR Bilton 65*, NG Hadfield 64, AJ Bilton 60, TS Young 40*) beat Foxton 237-8, 40 overs (CB Sanderson 74, J Douglas 47) by 19 runs.