CAPTAIN Will Eason cut a proud figure as Horspath evaded Saturday’s deluge to capture the Division 2 title with a four-wicket win at promotion rivals Amersham.

Knowing a victory would ensure they would go straight back up to the top-flight of the Home Counties Premier League, the leaders made no mistake.

Meanwhile, news filtered through title challengers Oxford’s game against Gerrards Cross at Jordan Hill had been washed out with the visitors, who are relegated, on 77-3 batting first.

The two results see Horspath increase their advantage to 20 points, with Amersham ten points behind Oxford in third.

In the unlikely scenario the leaders fail to pick up a point at home to Datchet in their last game and Oxford triumph at Thame Town and join them on level points and games won, Horspath would still be champions by virtue of losing fewer games.

Eason said: “We are delighted to be going back up considering it is a strong league.

“It was quite strange. I think we are all just really pleased with what we have done so far, but we are still concentrating on the last game and finishing off with a win.

“The end of last year was gut-wrenching and we didn’t want to be in a situation where it comes down to the last game with work still to do.

“What happened on Saturday fell very kindly for us.

“We enjoyed the promotion side of it and we will enjoy the championship win next week.

“I’m very pleased and very proud.”

Horspath were again indebted to a strong performance from their bowlers who restricted Amersham to 151 all out after putting the hosts in to bat.

The Bucks club reached 96-1.

But left-arm spinner Lloyd Belcher (3-41) pegged Amersham back, and with Adam Price (3-22), Jamil Faruq (3-29) and Pat Foster supporting, they lost their last nine wickets for 55 runs.

Openers Robbie Eason (44) and Jamie Stead got Horspath’s run chase off to a steady start, and although they lost wickets at regular intervals they always had the task in hand.

Victory was secured at 152-6 with three overs to spare, when Price hit a single to mid-wicket, sparking celebrations.

Thame beat Datchet by six wickets to ensure their Division 2 status.

The Berkshire side elected to bat and posted 188-9, with Joseph Thomas top-scoring with 78 and Will Rooney taking 4-25.

Thame made light work of chasing down the total, reaching 191-4 in 38.1 overs, with Will Sutcliffe (87) and Michael Beard (79no) leading the way.

Shipton-under-Wychwood and Aston Rowant’s local derby fell foul of the wet weather.

Rowant dismissed their hosts for 112, but they did not get a chance to reply.