WOODHOUSE GRANGE captain Nick Hadfield will tell his players to ensure they make the most of their Davidstow Village Cup final at Lord's tomorrow - because they may not be back.

The Sutton-on-Derwent skipper leads his men out at the home of English cricket against Oxfordshire side Great and Little Tew aware that restructuring of Yorkshire cricket could threaten his side's continued participation in the game's premier village competition.

League cricket in the county is set to be altered from 2016 with aspiring clubs given the opportunity to reach county premier league level.

Grange, who have won the York & District Senior League premier division for the past four seasons, would almost certainly jump at the opportunity of promotion if offered - and that would rule them out of the Village Cup.

Hadfield said: "There are rumours of change behind the scenes in the Yorkshire League and, if the details come out, it could be one of our last years. It does add a bit of importance to the game."

Grange return to Lord's for the first time since their defeat to Reed in the final two years ago with ten members of the squad that played in that encounter.

Only Josh Jackson and twelfth man Scott Shepherd are the additions since then. With Woodhouse Grange big favourites against their village rivals, who play in division two of the Home Counties Premier Cricket League, Hadfield believes his team's extra experience could prove vital.

"It's a big factor," he added. "The heritage and prestige of it can affect younger players and anyone can get nervous. It could work well but Reed were there for the first time two years ago and they just went out and played.

"The experience of it, however, can work in your favour. We have only won twice in the five times we have played there and it is a statistic we really want to change.

"Batting is our big strength. We have a very strong and powerful batting line up which goes down to eight or nine. We have got some very expansive players in the middle order.

"Last time, we lost wickets quickly in the middle which ripped the heart out of us. With Chris Bilton, Tom Young and Mike Burdett we have some very good batsmen."

Hadfield said the key thing was to make sure the team came off the wicket knowing they had performed to their best. "If you play well and you lose, like we did in 2008, you just hold your hands up," he added.

"The last time we probably didn't perform as we would have wished and we are determined to put that right."


WOODHOUSE GRANGE ROAD TO THE FINAL

Round 1: Woodhouse Grange 193-8, Fairburn 47 all out.

Round 2: Woodhouse Grange 388-5, Spofforth 66 all out.

Round 3: Woodhouse Grange 181-4, Sheriff Hutton Bridge 106 all out.

Regional final: Woodhouse Grange 131-2, Studley Royal 129 all out.

Round 5: Woodhouse Grange 63-0, Oulton 62 all out.

Round 6: Woodhouse Grange 191-3, Northop 125.

Quarter-finals: Woodhouse Grange 159-6, Sessay 147-8.

Semi-finals: Woodhouse Grange 298-9, Milford Hall 172.


Who are Great and Little Tew?

Based in the village of Great Tew, close to Chipping Norton, in Oxfordshire, Great and Little Tew CC booked their berth at Lord’s with a nine-wicket win at Dinton.

The club play in division two of the Home Counties Premier Cricket League and have had a middling season - winning only five of their 17 games to date.

A 74-run win over Cove last weekend, however, sees them travel to the home of English cricket in good heart. Skipper Andy Harris will captain the side in the final.

Chairman Dave Freeman said: “We play in quite a tough league and we have been competitive this season.

“Rain has interfered in quite a number of our games and we didn’t get the best of it.

“I am biased and I will always back my boys. They are a good unit and we are a really good fielding team.

“We have got people who can perform with the bat and ball and they are a good bunch of lads.

“Nine of our players have come through the youth section.”


Woodhouse Grange CC team

ANDREW BILTON
Forcing left hand opening bat, previous Yorkshire Schools and Yorkshire Academy star, now aged 25. 303 runs in competition including three half-centuries. Smart outfielder and catcher.

NICK HADFIELD (captain)
Right hand bat and left arm slow bowler. Long and successful career in York Senior League. 250 runs in competition, three half-centuries including 86 not out in quarter-final. Six wickets from five bowling opportunities.

CHRIS BILTON
Younger brother of Andrew, aged 21. Left handed stroke maker and alert fielder, can also keep wicket. 304 runs in competition, including 157 in round two and 75 in semi-final. Affectionately known as ‘frog’.

MIKE HATTEE
Formerly played for Osbaldwick, now established as regular in Woodhouse first team. Scored one half-century in the competition. Stylish right hander, looked upon as one for the future.

TOM YOUNG
Aggressive right hand bat and occasional fast bowler, aged 21. Magnificent semi-final score of 155 included eight sixes. When he hits them they stay hit. Great timing. Top scored in 2012 Lord’s final.

MIKE BURDETT (keeper)
Senior citizen of the side making his sixth Lord’s appearance. All time York Senior League record holder for keeping victims. 203 runs in this season’s competition with two half-centuries.

STEVE BURDETT (club captain)
All-rounder who won award in 2013 as York Senior League’s best Premier division bowler. Taken 14 wickets in this year’s competition, best of 3-5. Little chance to bat, but has a Lord’s half-century to his name from a previous Village Final. Very talented cricketer.

CHRIS SUDDABY
Young all-rounder whose off-spin has taken 11 wickets in this season’s competition, three times claiming three wickets and a best of 3-9. Can bat well, but little opportunity to date. Excellent fast out-fielder.

DAVID SUDDABY
Elder brother of Chris, making three pairs of brothers in the team. Medium paced bowler who has taken ten wickets in the competition, best of 4-17. Can wield the willow when required.

ANDREW HORNER
Vastly improved fast bowler after spending last winter in Australia. Best in this competition of 2-5, but has bowled a record number of maidens in League cricket this season. Can be very slippery. Affectionately known as ‘bear’.

JOSH JACKSON
The only member of the team making his first appearance at Lord’s. In his second season after joining from Selby. Left arm spinner who is the leading wicket-taker for the side in this competition. 18 wickets with a best of 4-9.

SCOTT SHEPHERD
Twelfth man. 19-year-old promising all-rounder. Very quick outfielder.