Raise your cups and mugs to Reed Cricket Club

Posted in Cricket.

Wow! What an incredible day it was at Lords on Sunday for the Yorkshire Tea Village Cup Final. Where do we start? Well, first of all a big thank you to all 292 teams’ players, family, fans and tea ladies and men who did their bit in making it happen in the first place.

The two teams that made it to the final were Woodhouse Grange Cricket Club near York and Reed Cricket Club from Hertfordshire. Unfortunately, there could only be one winner and after a cracking game in perfect sunshine, Reed came out on top winning by 6 wickets – it was actually much closer than that sounds.

The day itself had everything. Little Urn was there, highly polished, gleaming and on his absolute best behaviour. He and the Brew Crew, Melissa, Heidi, John and Will had plenty of takers for our Yorkshire Tea for Hard Water – makes a proper brew with London’s notoriously hard water. Little Urn even got to meet Lord's famous Ashes little urn!

Both teams had important league games the day before and both won! Then there was a mad dash down to London and the three coaches we put on for each team packed with family and fans arrived in the morning. Others made it down under their own steam and there was a great turn out.

No big village occasion would have been complete without a village fair and Sunday was no exception. Kids of all ages and parents loved all the fun and games such as hook-a-duck, tin can alley, high-striker, hoopla and balls in a bucket. With loads of Yorkshire Tea goodie bags up for grabs, their competitive spirits really came out. The face painters were kept busy too turning children into tigers, rabbits, butterflies and pirates.

Will, one of tea buyers, joined the tea ladies for both teams in the iconic media centre for a tea-tasting session on Test Match Sofa which was being broadcast live from Lords on the day. Even Sky Sports turned up and recorded a couple of news reports.

After the match, family and fans crowded onto the hallowed turf to see both teams being presented with their medals and jubilant winners Reed lifting the cup. Five times finalists Woodhouse Grange were wonderfully sporting, took their defeat with real grace and congratulated the winners.

In the evening, players and close family of both teams got dressed in their finery and enjoyed a sumptuous dinner in the famous Long Room at Lords. After speeches, as a special treat, bowling legend Darren Gough took questions from fellow retired England cricketer Chris Cowdrey, which fascinated both teams.

Looking back, despite some typically British weather, our Summer of Cricket has been a tremendous success. We’ve travelled to villages all over the country and chatted to some lovely people and watched some excellent cricket over a brew. Best of all, we’ve seen some delicious cricket teas put on by some really dedicated unsung heroes.

So let’s raise our cups and mugs and have a proper brew, not only to winners Reed Cricket Club, but also all the villages that entered the Yorkshire Tea Village Cup and everyone who puts so much dedication and effort into making cricket teas with proper love and care.

Oh, and if you want to win a Bat-Making Experience, you’ve until 9am on the 17 September 2012 to win one in our Facebook competition.

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