REVENGE will be in the air when Sheriff Hutton Bridge aim to take another stride towards Lord's tomorrow.

They face Streethouse in the quarter-finals of the National Village Cricket Championship with an old score to settle.

Two years ago in the same competition Bridge seemed to be cruising to victory when Streethouse were reduced to 76-8 as they chased 196-8.

But wicketkeeper Brian Howard came in and hit 103 to steer the Pontefract and District League side to a sensational victory with four balls to spare.

"He will be a danger again," said Bridge secretary Colin Mole. "But our boys are really up for it."

Bridge's young side were relegated from the premier division of the Hunters the Estate Agent York and District League last season but are enjoying a great summer.

They head the first division and look like going back up at the first attempt, but have also saved some of their best performances for the National Village competition.

They are in the quarter-finals for the first time since 1991 while Streethouse have reached this stage for the third successive year. In 2001 and 2002 Wolviston got the better of Streethouse to reach the last eight, but the West Yorkshire side turned the tables on their old rivals in the last round.

Bridge will be led by Paul Oldfield, who has been among the runs in all competitions. He will open with Paul Scaling, the vice-captain.

Runs have also been flowing from the bat of Paul's hard-hitting brother, Nick. They are one of three sets of brothers in the Bridge squad along with Peter and Stephen Crowder and Mike and Alister Sinclair.

Although Bridge will be without Dave Ellis, who is unavailable, they should be strengthened in the bowling department by Mike Smith. He is one of the club's principal bowlers but has been unable to play on Sundays so far this season and will be making his debut in this season's competition.

With Streethouse expecting to bring up to 150 fans from the Wakefield and Featherstone area, Bridge's Moor Lane ground will be choc-a-block with the crowd expected to top the 500 who saw Bridge defeat Northumberland-based side Warkworth in the last round.

"It promises to be a cracking match with plenty of atmosphere," said Mole.

The action starts at 2pm and the winners will be just one match away from a coveted appearance at Lord's on Sunday, September 7.

Whoever wins tomorrow will be away in the semi-finals on August 10.

Updated: 11:07 Saturday, August 02, 2003