Calmore Sports bid to become only the third Hampshire club to win the Voneus Village Cup when they face Alvanley, from the Cheshire County League, in the 50th anniversary final at Lord’s on Sunday, 11am.
Of the seven previously finalists, only Longparish and Hursley Park, in 1987 and 1992, respectively, have held the trophy aloft on the steps of the historic pavilion.
Longparish became the first local winners by beating Treeton, from South Yorkshire, by 76 runs, Hursley Park emulating their feat five years later when Clive Surry hit an unbeaten 76 to steer a six-wicket victory over another Tyke team, Methley, Chris Westbrook having taken 4-40 with his left-arm spin.
Both clubs tried and failed before that, as did Rowledge in 1985 when they lost to the Scottish champions Freuchie by losing fewer wickets in a tied match, 134 runs apiece.
Hambledon suffered a double disappointment in 1989. Not only did they lose by six wickets to Toft, but their big day out at Lord’s was washed out and the final replayed in the slightly less historic surroundings of the Midland Bank Sports Ground in Beckenham.
More recently, of course, Liphook & Ripsley walked proudly through the Grace Gates, only to be well beaten by 2018 winners Folkton & Flixton, from Scarborough, whom Alvanley put out in this year’s quarter-finals.
Can Calmore Sports become the first club in 30 years to win the Village Cup ?
Of the seven previously finalists, only Longparish and Hursley Park, in 1987 and 1992, respectively, have held the trophy aloft on the steps of the historic pavilion.
Longparish became the first local winners by beating Treeton, from South Yorkshire, by 76 runs, Hursley Park emulating their feat five years later when Clive Surry hit an unbeaten 76 to steer a six-wicket victory over another Tyke team, Methley, Chris Westbrook having taken 4-40 with his left-arm spin.
Both clubs tried and failed before that, as did Rowledge in 1985 when they lost to the Scottish champions Freuchie by losing fewer wickets in a tied match, 134 runs apiece.
Hambledon suffered a double disappointment in 1989. Not only did they lose by six wickets to Toft, but their big day out at Lord’s was washed out and the final replayed in the slightly less historic surroundings of the Midland Bank Sports Ground in Beckenham.
More recently, of course, Liphook & Ripsley walked proudly through the Grace Gates, only to be well beaten by 2018 winners Folkton & Flixton, from Scarborough, whom Alvanley put out in this year’s quarter-finals.
Can Calmore Sports become the first club in 30 years to win the Village Cup ?
