The idyllic surrounds of Spout House's Bilsdale ground have been well documented in the past, and that added to the sense of privilege spectators hopefully felt at being present to witness a piece of local cricketing history.

It was the first time in their long history, according to reliable sources, that Spout House has hosted a cup final.

The opponents were Harome and High Farndale. The competition, the final of the Lady Feversham Cup.

Great credit must go to those Spout House members for preparing the ground and its surrounds so admirably, though it was a pity no-one took advantage of the special seating arrangements laid on alongside the east wall. Perhaps the climb up to them was too daunting.

Once the confusion of the starting time and the number of overs to be played had been sorted out (11am and 20 overs per side maximum), the match got under way on a cool, rather breezy Sunday morning, with Harome batting first.

High Farndale's hopes quickly sank when David Greenlay strode to the wicket and soon was in full flow, exhibiting a bevy of "one day" type strokes, or slogs might be more appropriate, to extremely good effect.

Nor could High Farndale make any impression at the other end where Jodie Robson looked in equally good "nick". Had High Farndale been rather more dexterous in the field they might have been able to dismiss Greenlay much more cheaply than proved to be the case.

One luckless individual, adorned in what one can only describe as an old fashioned style Newcastle United shirt, had the misfortune to be in the way of two Greenlay induced missiles hurtling towards him in successive deliveries. His attempts at catching them were praiseworthy, but unsuccessful.

By the time the 10th over had been reached High Farndale were probably thinking they would have been better off had they stayed in bed, as the scoreboard showed 50 without loss. Then, surprisingly, Robson was bowled over by Richard Aconley off an inside edge for 20.

This only served to galvanise Greenlay into more frenetic action, and he achieved his half century in the 14th over.

Ian Prendergast, who had given Greenlay the strike as much as possible, eventually went, caught Richard Aconley bowled Chris Wilson for 11, and William Metcalfe quickly followed, stumped by Robert Aconley off James Blacklock without scoring.

Greenlay would admit that the High Farndale bowling was of a rather more friendlier nature than he normally faces in the higher echelons of the game, but he certainly made the most of it. Then, when the possibility of a century began to germinate in people's minds, Greenlay cracked another skier towards the pavilion, whereupon Blacklock, running downhill, and with arms open in supplication, closed them in time to take a stunning catch off Geoff Eborall.

Greenlay had gone for a fine, and thoroughly entertaining 69. The rest of the Harome innings was inevitably rather mundane in comparison.

Oliver Metcalfe was run out for two, Stephen Dodsworth got in some telling blows, but finally perished lofting the ball to Mark Robinson off Eborall, and it was Eborall, finally, from the last ball of the innings, who had Carl Collier expertly caught on the boundary by Richard Aconley for four.

Eborall's figures of 3-29 were quite reasonable in the circumstances, but there was little joy amongst the High Farndale team trooping off the field to be faced with Harome's daunting 126-7.

Any hope High Farndale had rested on the shoulders of their talented openers, Brian Leckenby and Kevin Wilson. Anyone who thought the result was a foregone conclusion, the large majority of the ground one suspects, began to revise their thinking as both batsmen began slowly, gradually accelerated, and by the time the eighth over had been bowled, with the total on 44, were more or less in complete command.

One crashing shot from Leckenby bounced across the B1257 (luckily no 100mph motor bikes were passing at the time), whilst the Ainslie family had their hearts in their mouths as a scorching shot from Wilson threatened their south facing upstairs window, before crashing against the side of the house.

Amazingly, at the half way stage of the High Farndale innings their total represented exactly half of Harome's final tally ie 63, and Harome woke up to the fact that they had a game on their hands.

A good adroit spell of slow bowling from Justin Palmer swung the balance of power back to Harome. Then, with the total on 73, Harome set a trap for Wilson by posting Oliver Metcalfe on the northern boundary, whereupon Wilson duly obliged by thrashing the ball to him which Metcalfe promptly pouched. Wilson had gone for a well played 30, and now everything depended on Leckenby. He reached his 50 from the first ball of the 16th over, and then saw his partner Robert Aconley caught by Robson off Greenlay for one.

Then came the defining moment. With 38 runs required from the four remaining overs, by no means an impossible task, Leckenby, this most talented and yet unassuming of cricketers, tried his luck once too often and Prendergast, amidst audible sighs of Harome relief, smartly took the catch on the boundary off Greenlay.

Leckenby's demise for a most enjoyable to watch 51 spelt the end for High Farndale. Not that they gave up on their mission. Richard Aconley fell, caught behind by Dodsworth off Greenlay for eight, and Mark Robinson, who one assumes was going on to play football later in the day as he had a red "9" emblazoned on the back of his shirt, tried his best and achieved 10no, as eventually High Farndale had to admit defeat, ending on a heroic 111 for 4.

There was little doubt who would be named man of the match - Dave Greenlay.