PREVIOUS winners Woodhouse Grange and Sessay are poised to go head-to-head in the last-16 of the Yorkshire Tea National Village Cup, writes Charlie Hollinrake.

The second national round fixture is scheduled to be played at Grange’s ground on Sunday, July 15, starting at 1pm.

Sutton-on-Derwent-based Woodhouse were winners of the cup in 1995 and 2007, while they also reached the Lord’s final in 1999 and 2008.

Sessay reached the final for the first time in 1976 and lost, but 34 years later became the third Hunters York & District Senior Cricket League team – Sheriff Hutton Bridge complete the set – to win the National Village Cup.

To reach the last 16, Woodhouse Grange beat Scottish side Freuchie and Sessay ousted Manchester-based holders Woodhouses.

After making a 450-mile round trip to Freuchie on July 1 only to have the wicket declared unplayable, Woodhouse hosted the rescheduled game on Sunday.

Grange won by eight wickets with 17 overs to spare, chasing down Freuchie’s 117-9.

There were excellent bowling performances from Steve Burdett, with figures of 2-13 off nine overs, David Suddaby, with 3-22, and Nick Hadfield, who took 2-32.

Hadfield then scored 60 not out and Chris Bilton added 30 as Grange cruised through.

Sessay went up against Woodhouses a week earlier and won by ten wickets.

Sessay bowled first and there was an outstanding display by Stuart Peirse, taking four wickets in his first six overs and changing the course of the game.

Woodhouses were all out for 69 in 32 overs and a flawless innings from Matthew Till, who hit 54 runs from only 41 balls, sped Sessay to victory as they outclassed the 2011 champions in all departments.

With star players such as Till and Pierse from Sessay going up against in-form foes Burdett and Hadfield, a thrilling Yorkshire derby is in prospect.

The sides last met in the Village Cup in 2010, with Sessay winning the quarter-final tie by 32 runs en route to lifting the trophy at Lord’s.