Sheriff Hutton Bridge win npower Village Cup

OVER THE past 30 years, the women of Sheriff Hutton in the Vale of York have become resigned to unkempt gardens and blocked gutters as their menfolk devote every spare hour to their preparations for the annual npower National Village Cup, organised by The Wisden Cricketer.

Even though the village has a population of just 1,500, it boasts two serious cricket clubs, both with flourishing junior and senior sides, both with well organised practising and playing schedules and both spawning a growing band of cricket widows.

But for 24 hours, the wives, mothers and girlfriends of players representing Sheriff Hutton Bridge CC, established in 1949 and the newer of the two clubs, shared the thrills that have become the preserve of Mrs Vaughan and Mrs Harmison when they watched their boys winning a final at Lord's, beating Kent side Eynsford by four wickets.

They had the most amazing day, said Steve `Stiggy' Crowder, man of the match after steering his side to victory with an unbeaten 76, despite injuring his thumb. "We have been trying to win this competition for years and have come pretty close," says the 34 year-old transmission engineer, who was back at work at 7.30am on Monday morning, having arrived home gone two o'clock following the Lord's celebrations.

"We reached the quarter finals twice in the past four years and were knocked out of the semi-finals last year," says Crowder. "When you've had those disappointments, you feel less like throwing it away when the opportunity is there.

"We had no idea what to expect but having spoken to the lads at Woodhouse Grange, who played in the final in 1999, we decided to go down to London early so we could have a tour around Lord's and get used to it before we went out to play.

"I think it gave us an advantage because we were not trying to take everything in when we walked out to bat or ran into bowl. We were not trying to look at the paintings on the wall when we walked through the Long Room because we had seen them the previous day.

"For one day, we were made to feel like professional players by the organisers and the MCC members and that felt great."

In front of a strongly partisan 2,500 crowd, which included eight coach loads of supporters from Eynsford and three from York, the band of Sheriff Hutton amateurs led by Paul Scaling were sent out into the sun first after Eysnford skipper Ben Wise won the toss and chose to bat. It wasn't long before the first cheers rang out.

Dave Houldridge struck in his second over when keeper Adam Fisher, a 17-year-old A level student, pouched a catch to dismiss opener Gary Atkins. His partner James Ashdown, who had scored three centuries in the previous rounds, made just eight before his stumps were castled by Paul's brother Nick, a menacing bowler who celebrated in the manner of Andrew Flintoff by anchoring himself proudly to the spot, back arched, arms and legs outstretched.

Eynsford, who Wise later admitted make a point of never practising between matches, were dismissed for 201 in 38.5 overs. The reply started solidly then faltered as nerves took hold in the middle order but Crowder, who was dropped at long off on 55, kept his cool and, needing 33 at a run a ball, found an ally in the young Fisher and was able to cross the finish line with eight balls to spare.

With the trophy held aloft, the players retired to the Lord's Tavern to watch the final nerve-jangling overs from Trent Bridge then boarded the team bus to return home, knowing they had to keep a reasonably clear head for another big match the following day when they were playing Woodhouse Grange in a vital match to avoid relegation from the premier division of the Hunters York and District Senior League.

The heads were fine but the bodies weary and they suffered a heavy loss, giving them a mountain to climb in 2006, to defend their npower Village Cup title and regain their place in the top division. The gardens and gutters will have to wait.