Villagers at Lord's in bid to conquer Centurions (From Tewkesbury Admag)

Villagers at Lord's in bid to conquer Centurions

IF Exhall and Wixford are going to taste success at Lord's on Sunday in the final of the npower Village Cup then they will have to overcome opponents who claim to be the "best club team in Wales", writes Mervyn Collins.

However, having already seen off a trio of sides after thrilling finishes, the Cots-wold Hills Leaguers certainly won't be fazed by this weekend's task.

Based in Barry, Sully's full strength squad has collected 375 Wales caps but, with competition rules making four players ineligible, Centurions call on a quartet of teenagers to make up the numbers.

Twins David and Don Syl-vester are the driving force behind the club that, according to their semi-final victims from Findon, have "manufactured a team to win the competition".

The pair are now 59 and ply their cricketing trade in the second string while taking the keenest of interests in how Don's elder son Jamie is leading the senior side.

The skipper smashed an unbeaten 138, took four wickets and snaffled up a couple of catches in his side's 37-run defeat of the Sussex side. Younger brother Ryan grabbed the final wicket as the Centurions booked their final place.

While Exhall boast two Australians in their almost otherwise home-grown squad, the Welshmen will parade the talents of West-ern Australian Nathan Gage.

"We do get in the faces of the opposition," he admitted. "It doesn't make us the most popular side but it's proved very effective."

Sully will be hoping to follow a rich history of Welsh success since the tournament was first staged in 1972. Exhall, meanwhile, will bidding to become the first club from Warwick-shire to be crowned top village team.

Previous Glamorgan and Gwent champions, St Fag-ans, Gowerton and Ynstawe have both triumphed at the home of the MCC, the Saints winning three times in 1981, 1982 and 1991.

Warwickshire has only ever been represented n the final once and that was in the inaugural event when Astwood Bank lost to Cor-nish opponents Troon.

Bank were last year's losing finalists after qualifying as champions of Worcest-ershire when they slumped to 79 all out against defending champions Shipton-under-Wychwood.

Several of the Sully players have previous experience of Lord's, having played for Wales, but none will have the background boasted by John Simpson, for whom Sunday will be a third final.

The previous two were played with Woodhouse Grange. The exiled York-shireman will be hoping for a second success in a competition that will see a new name engraved on the roll of honour.