npower Village Cup

Horspath, runners-up in the Oxfordshire final for the last three years, bid to end their hoodoo when they take on old rivals Aston Rowant at the Recreation Ground on Sunday (2pm).

And they will fancy their chances this time as they have generally had the better of these encounters against Rowant in recent years, even though their opponents play in a higher league.

Rowant will be grateful just to be competing in the final after controversy in the semis against Oxford Downs, who were later discovered to have fielded an ineligible player.

Organisers, The Wisden Cricketer, admitted some ambiguity in their rules and gave Downs the chance of a replay at Rowant, a bowl-out or the toss or a coin to resolve the issue, but they decided to fall on their swords.

Horspath, who dispatched Cumnor by 116 runs in their semi, are without batsman Mark Skelton, who played a major role in that game, hammering 56 off 44 balls with nine fours and a six. Ned Murray comes in.

Skipper Robbie Eason said: “We've had success against Rowant in this competition in recent years so we know how to beat them. We respect them, but we don’t fear them.

“We get amazing support at Horspath and that will be evident on Sunday.”

For Rowant, Tim Foster is back from holiday and Thad Cooper returns from university, while Mark Walker has put in some good performances so far this season and is pressing for a place in the side.

Victory for Horspath would end a 30-year wait since they last won the county final against Tiddington.

In the Tiddington team that day was one Adrian Manger, the Oxfordshire Over 50s player, who is in the Horspath line-up on Sunday.

Horspath: R Eason (capt), Creed, Murray, W Eason, Manger, Rana, Chanel, Cook, Todd, Green, Cummings.

Aston Rowant: from Ridgley (capt), Jewell, Morgans, Watling, Plumridge, Eaton, Walker, Cooper, Lewis, Needham, Penhale, Foster, Davis, Humphreys, Dutton.