TIDDINGTON captain Darren Risden is confident his side can prove their worth in the national stages of The Cricketer Village Cup.

Risden’s men defeated Horspath by 15 runs in the Oxfordshire final as the hosts’ challenge stuttered badly on home turf.

Tiddington’s 199-6 looked within range on Horspath’s small ground, but the visitors’ tenacity with the ball and in the field saw them home.

“Before the game, we said we wanted 200 and anything above that would be a bonus,” said Risden.

“The way we are bowling and fielding this year, we knew we would be able to restrict them.

“We knew they bat all the way down, so we had to keep going without any let up.

“Robbie Eason was a key wicket. Once he went, that gave us a chance.

“It was a great all-round team performance. I am really happy for the guys.

“A lot of them have not played in the national rounds before.”

Tiddington, who were cheered on by former player and Yorkshire paceman Jack Brooks, had beaten Shipton-under-Wychwood and Aston Rowant to reach this stage.

But Risden stressed they were “major underdogs” against Horspath.

National runners-up in 1997, Tiddington have some pedigree in the Village Cup.

As for going further in this year’s competition, Risden said: “Oxfordshire is one of the toughest group stages.

“If you come through that, there is no reason why you cannot progress to the later rounds.”

Tiddington are certainly a family club, if Sunday’s line-up is anything to go by.

That side featured twins Phil and Ian Pykett and their brother Nick, plus the Goodman siblings – Will and Chris.

Meanwhile, Horspath skipper Adam Krol was quick to praise Tiddington.

“They played better cricket at the pressure times,” he said.

“The weather went against us, but that is not an excuse.

“We got starts, but nobody kicked on. We needed somebody to get 80 or 90, but that didn’t quite happen.

“We probably left ourselves too much to do at the end.”

But Krol added: “We’ll bounce back from this, there is no doubt about it.”