DEFENDING champions Sessay Cricket Club will meet the toughest of tests in the first national round of the Persimmon National Village Cup on Sunday – twice winners Woodhouse Grange.

The Thirsk-based side, who won the showpiece final at Lord’s last September, meet their Yorek Senior League rivals in a repeat of last year’s quarter-final.

Sessay came out on top by 32 runs that day on their way to eventual victory over Shipton-under-Wychwood at the home of cricket. Grange, based at Sutton-on-Derwent, will be seeking revenge.

Sessay qualified for the huge weekend clash after beating Cloughton, while Grange saw off Sheriff Hutton Bridge.

Invited to bat first on an awkward seaming wicket and, thanks to some good fast bowling from Jordan Grose and Mark Fisher, Woodhouse Grange soon found themselves in difficulty at 53-4.

They were rescued by a magnificent fifth wicket partnership of 110 between Mike Burdett (62) and Andrew Anderson (47) which enabled them to reach a final total of 181-7, despite Grose’s excellent 5-30.

Sheriff Hutton Bridge found the conditions no easier and were soon 6-3 against Tom Quinn and Steve Burdett.

Adam Fisher led the fight-back making 40, but the rest of the batting succumbed to the spinners as Nick Hadfield bowled a mean spell and Chris Suddaby cleaned up with 5-25.

Sheriff Hutton Bridge were bowled out for 101 with Grange winning by 80 runs.

Sunday’s match at Sessay starts at 1.30pm.