THERE was great excitement in the Buckley Cup on August 5 as Sticklepath triumphed over local rivals Belstone for the first time since ?hostilities? resumed in 1993.

In the corresponding fixture last season they came tantalisingly close to victory as Belstone hit ten runs off the first three balls of the last over to sneak home by three wickets.

This year the roles were reversed in an even closer finish with Sticklepath?s last pair at the wicket and six runs needed from the final two balls.

Earlier, after Belstone had won the toss and elected to bat at the Ash Park ground, they made a poor start as Tim Pitts-Tucker got the second ball of the match through Eddie Jones?s defences.

Recovering, they reached 41 in the sixth over before the next wicket fell as Simon Tremain (15) and Phil Woods (25) hit five fours and a six between them.

A mixture of big hitting and cheap dismissals followed ? three golden ducks in all ? with Pitts-Tucker clean bowling two more victims to finish with the best figures of three for 20 from his four overs. Richard Drake made a rapid 15, John Carter a steady 20 and Barry Down remained undefeated on 32 but crucially, Belstone were all out for 116 in the 17th over with 14 balls of the innings wasted.

In reply, Sticklepath reached 45 before losing their first wicket, by which time Richard Boarder had retired on 25 not out. Phil Tyler also struck the ball powerfully, hitting three fours and a six before also retiring on 26 not out.

Belstone then got back into the game as the home side slipped from 75 for two in the 14th over to 97 for eight at the end of the 18th over. This spell included a double wicket maiden for Down, who capped a fine all-round performance with three catches and figures of three for seven from two overs.

Boarder was able to return to the crease and promptly hit Jones back over his head for six to take ten runs from the penultimate over.

Drake began the final over with ten runs still required. Number eleven bat Paul Richards-Mole took a single off the first ball to give Boarder the strike.

The second ball was driven hard and low to long-off where the catch was dropped and two runs scampered.

The third ball was turned for a single; Richards-Mole was caught off the fourth bringing Tyler back to the wicket; and the game was finished in style off the fifth ball as the six runs required came in one mighty blow over long-on into the next field from Boarder, who finished with a decisive 45 not out.

On the positive side for Belstone they did gain the eight points needed to ensure that the Buckley Cup trophy is retained for the second season running.

Buckley Cup table

P Pts

Belstone 8 92

Spreyton 6 61

Yeoford 6 51

Tedburn St Mary 8 51

Sticklepath 6 50