Liphook & Ripsley bid to become the third Hampshire club to win the National Village Cup when they face North Yorkshire side Folkton & Flixton in Sunday’s final at Lord’s.
Longparish in 1987 and Hursley Park five years later had their names etched on the trophy during a relative golden era for Hampshire cricket when six teams from the county appeared in Lord’s finals between 1980 and 1992.
Both ‘Parish and Hursley Park tasted the disappointment of a Lord’s defeat before actually lifting the NVC on the pavilion steps
The powerful Welsh side Marchwiel beat both Longparish (1980) and Hursley Park (1984) while Rowledge fell to Scottish opposition in the form of Freuchie in a tied match – 134 runs each – a year later. Freuchie lost least wickets. All-rounder Chris Yates is the sole surviving playing member from that 1985 final.
But two seasons later Longparish broke the mould, John Heagren (63) and Bob Sturt and Barry Smith (with three wickets each) setting up a comfortable 76-run win over Treeton Welfare, from South Yorkshire.
Two years on, Hampshire was represented at Lord’s again – but all the historic gloss of Hambledon’s journey to the Grace Gates was literally washed away when the 1989 final against Toft was rained off in mid-afternoon. Replaying the tie on the then Midland Bank ground at Beckenham a day later didn’t quite have the same sparkle and Hambledon lost by six wickets having been bowled out for 104.
And so to 1992 when an unbeaten 76 by Clive Surry swept Hursley Park to a six-wicket win over Methley, who made 150-6, Chris Westbrook taking four of the South Yorkshire wickets.
Since then, only Easton & Martyr Worthy have got anywhere near exiting the Jubilee line at St John’s Wood. They reached the semi-finals in 2006, fielding nine recognised bowlers (and an insufficient number of batsmen) against Timsbury, themselves beaten Lord’s finalists by Houghton Main.
Longparish in 1987 and Hursley Park five years later had their names etched on the trophy during a relative golden era for Hampshire cricket when six teams from the county appeared in Lord’s finals between 1980 and 1992.
Both ‘Parish and Hursley Park tasted the disappointment of a Lord’s defeat before actually lifting the NVC on the pavilion steps
The powerful Welsh side Marchwiel beat both Longparish (1980) and Hursley Park (1984) while Rowledge fell to Scottish opposition in the form of Freuchie in a tied match – 134 runs each – a year later. Freuchie lost least wickets. All-rounder Chris Yates is the sole surviving playing member from that 1985 final.
But two seasons later Longparish broke the mould, John Heagren (63) and Bob Sturt and Barry Smith (with three wickets each) setting up a comfortable 76-run win over Treeton Welfare, from South Yorkshire.
Two years on, Hampshire was represented at Lord’s again – but all the historic gloss of Hambledon’s journey to the Grace Gates was literally washed away when the 1989 final against Toft was rained off in mid-afternoon. Replaying the tie on the then Midland Bank ground at Beckenham a day later didn’t quite have the same sparkle and Hambledon lost by six wickets having been bowled out for 104.
And so to 1992 when an unbeaten 76 by Clive Surry swept Hursley Park to a six-wicket win over Methley, who made 150-6, Chris Westbrook taking four of the South Yorkshire wickets.
Since then, only Easton & Martyr Worthy have got anywhere near exiting the Jubilee line at St John’s Wood. They reached the semi-finals in 2006, fielding nine recognised bowlers (and an insufficient number of batsmen) against Timsbury, themselves beaten Lord’s finalists by Houghton Main.
