Woodhouse Grange book fifth trip to Village Cup final (From York Press)

Woodhouse Grange book fifth trip to Village Cup final

11:28am Tuesday 14th August 2012 in Sport By Stuart Martel, Sports editor

SKIPPER Steve Burdett is refusing to bask in the glory of a fifth Lord’s outing for Woodhouse Grange Cricket Club.

The long-serving captain led his side into the final of the Yorkshire Tea National Village Cup with an eight-wicket win over Cropston in Sunday’s semi-final.

But, with Hertfordshire side Reed awaiting at HQ on Sunday, September 9, Burdett declared it was “pointless” getting to the showpiece if you fail to come away with the trophy.

Sutton-on-Derwent-based Grange have experienced Village Cup joy and despair in equal measure, lifting the trophy in 1995 and 2007 but losing the final in 1999 and 2008.

Burdett said: “We’ve got there five times now. The most important thing is to get on and win it. It is pointless just getting there.

“I don’t know much about our opponents but ultimately you’ve got to play whoever is put in front of you. I am sure that we will do well.”

He added: “It is another final, which is pleasing. It’s great for the club and for the young lads who have not experienced it before.

“People at the club have put a lot of effort in and now they are reaping the rewards.”

Leicestershire visitors Cropston won the toss and, to Burdett’s surprise, opted to bat first.

They cruised to 37-0 off the first eight overs, but the brakes were applied by Nick Hadfield (1-14 from nine overs) and Dave Suddaby (2-24 from nine overs).

Steve Burdett (3-23) and Tom Quinn (2-15) then sliced through the middle order as Cropston folded from 80-3 to 103 all out, their last four wickets falling for only one run.

Wicket-keeper Mike Burdett gave a faultless display behind the stumps, with two catches and two lightning-fast stumpings.

There were also two run-outs, conjured by Hadfield and Chris Bilton.

Grange raced to victory inside 22 overs on the back of an opening stand of 87 between Mike Hattee (29) and Hadfield, who was in imperious form in reaching his half-century off only 36 balls.

He went on to make 66 not out, including 14 fours, as Woodhouse cantered to an eight-wicket win with more than 18 overs to spare.

The previous day, the defending Hunters York & District Senior Cricket League premier division champions beat Easingwold to move to within four points of leaders Studley Royal.

Skipper Burdett placed that win on a par with the Cropston result, saying: “It was a massive win. You are measured by your league performances and that result puts us in a good position.

“Easingwold is always a tough game and closing the gap at the top and getting to the Village Cup final made it a momentous weekend for us.

“We have got Studley to play at home so we are in the mix and it is in our hands.”