Tiddington, national finalists in 1995, have pulled out of this year's npower Village Cup after fielding an ineligible player.

They withdrew from the competition after realising they had breached the rules by playing left-arm seamer John Richardson against Great & Little Tew and Oxford Downs in the first two rounds.

Tiddington were due to be at home to Shipton-under-Wychwood in the Oxfordshire quarter-finals last Sunday.

But following their withdrawal, Oxford Downs, who lost to Tiddington by three runs, have been reinstated and will take on Shipton at Standlake on Sunday.

Tiddington were under the impression that Richardson, who had come through their youth teams, was eligible, having played eight games in the past two seasons.

However, a spokesman for competition organisers The Wisden Cricketer explained that Richardson, who moved to Bicester & North Oxford last season, hadn't played the requisite four games for Tiddington last year.

"To be fair to Tiddington, they played against sides and didn't realise the chap wasn't eligible," said the spokesman. "They phoned up, and it is to their credit really. The rule is to prevent ringers."

Tiddington chairman Nick Edmondson said: "We thought withdrawing was the right and honourable thing to do.

"It is a competition we respect and enjoy and it is good for the county and all our clubs.

"When we realised what we had done we realised it was the only course of action we could take."

It allows Downs back into the competition, and their skipper Danny Lee said: "Obviously it is a bit unfortunate for Tiddington.

"They beat us fair and square on the day, but we are delighted to get a second chance."

Oxon quarter-finals (Sun): Horspath v Hanborough, Aston Rowant v Tetsworth, Oxford Downs v Shipton-under-Wychwood, Kingston Bagpuize v Kidmore End.