National Village Cup: Round 3 results, scores and top performers

Before Yorkshire villages can even contemplate September’s shimmering prize of a Lord’s final in the National Village Cup, they have to first negotiate their Regional Group.

That picture is gradually becoming clear in the 2025 season and here are the latest scores, results and top performers from the late May Bank Holiday weekend.

North Yorkshire (North) – Group 3

Woodhouse Grange efficiently progressed after dismissing South Holderness for 71 on Sunday 25 May at Middle Lane.

Ryan Thompson (3-10), Rob Gainer (3-17) and Matt Shepherd (3-2) all claimed three wickets as the visitors made their trip to the outskirts of Hull count.

In reply, the scoreboard read 21-2 and 46-3 as Ashley Wills (2-17) struck early but Woodhouse Grange captain Matthew Ainsley (22 not out off 11 balls) saw them through to the regional final.

Joining them will be South Milford who reached their target of 234, seven wickets down, at Killinghall.

The hosts’ 233-7 was built on Josh McDonald’s knock of 69 while the middle order all made starts and then captain Dan Atkinson hit 49. The wickets were shared round with Charlie Bramley’s 2-28 blending economy with dismissals.

At 43-3 and latterly 107-5, the run chase wobbled but South Milford won with three overs to spare to set up the showstopper with Woodhouse Grange.

Captain Harry Jackson hit a patient 59 but the game-changer was Joe Raynor’s unbeaten 76 off just 45 balls. Josh McDonald (3-70) grabbed a brace but in the end, it wasn’t quite enough.

The date for Round 4 / regional finals is showing on the Village Cup website as Sunday 8 June.

North Yorkshire (South) – Group 4

Carlton Towers, fresh from the grand opening of their pavilion recently, had the easiest path to the regional final in Group 4 after their opponents East Ardsley conceded the fixture.

They will face Brandesburton who edged Alkborough by 23 runs at the Rial Cricket Ground.

Brandesburton scored 233-8 off their 40 overs with skipper Dan Broumpton top-scoring with 66 off 30 balls in the middle order. Jack Booker (2-32) and Will Standerline (3-53) were the lead wicket-takers for Alkborough; the North Lincolnshire hamlet south of the River Humber.

In reply, Alkborough’s opener Sam Brown hit 89 but his stumping off Jason Khurana (3-30) was a key moment and they came up short, dismissed for 210 in 38-5 overs.

West Yorks, South Yorks & Humberside – Group 5

The regional final in Group 5 will see Thornton of the Halifax League take on Slaithwaite of the Huddersfield Premier Cricket League on Sunday 8 June.

Slaithwaite racked up 258-9 with Cosmond Walters hitting a brutal 136 off 74 balls. Sam Clark (3-39) and Shaun Tate (2-35) were amongst the wickets for Middleton & North Dalton.

It looks as if Slaithwaite have progressed despite there only being one innings. A story there perhaps. Or not. At a push, they may start as favourites against Thornton who won by 1 run against Streethouse.

Thornton’s total (194-9) was thanks to 94 not out by Richard Wear at the top of the order as the home team regularly lost wickets at the other end.

At 86-6, Streethouse will rue how they let Thornton off the hook to reach 194-9 as Grant Soames hit 34, batting at eight, to help steer the recovery.

The visitors’ bowling saw wickets shared including double-wicket spells for Ismail Patel (2-43), Ben Brown (2-32) and Michael Bates (2-27).

Lee Tarbuck’s 81 not out was the batting highlight for Streethouse of the Bradford Premier League with Ismail Patel (38) and Ben Brown (22) contributing in the middle order.

A clatter of wickets set the nerves jangling as Thornton’s Soames double act, Greg (3-28) and Grant (2-40) took centre stage.

Thanks to the game being live streamed on FrogBox, I watched that it all came down to the final ball with Streethouse on 192-9. Tarbuck on strike with Grant Soames the bowler.

Three to win, two required to tie the match: Would that require a sudden death bowl-out, a windsurfing challenge on the sightscreens or a singing contest?

We never found out. A throw of the bat, a mistimed bunt legside and Thornton wicketkeeper Brad Weatherhead scampered round to collect the ball and knock the bails off. Cue exhausted celebrations, slumped shoulders for the vanquished and hand shakes.

We’re getting down to crunch time in Yorkshire for the region’s villages still in the competition. The regional finals (Round 4) will be followed by the start of the national rounds (Round 5) that are inked in for June 22.

Village Cup Regional Finals – Sunday June 8 @ 1pm

🏏 Woodhouse Grange vs South Milford
🏏 Brandesburton vs Carlton Towers
🏏 Thornton vs Slaithwaite