The draw for the 2022 Voneus Village Cup has taken place, with over 340 clubs across the UK now plotting their roads to Lord’s.
Among those hoping to be crowned national champions on Sunday, September 18, are 2021 winners Calmore Sports Club. Like England at the Women’s World Cup, the Hampshire side are looking to go back-to-back and will begin their title defence at home to Hambledon in round one on April 24.
However, for some clubs, their Village Cup journey could already be over before the first round proper is even underway.
In Essex & Suffolk, by far the biggest group with 22 entrants, there are six preliminary fixtures taking place on April 10, while North Yorkshire (North) have two fixtures and Oxfordshire have one.
Four former champions – Sessay, Sheriff Hutton Bridge, Forge Valley and Folkton & Flixton – are among the teams to enter the North Yorkshire (North) section in round one while matches will also get underway in 19 other regions.
Alvanley, who lost to Calmore by six wickets in last year’s final, begin their campaign on the road against Birch Vale & Thornsett in the Cheshire & Clwyd group while Buckinghamshire’s Stoke Green, one of the sides to watch after reaching the semi-finals in 2021, welcome Mursley.
2021 champions Calmore Sports Club host Hambledon in round one (Photo: Aaron Parsons)
However, fellow semi-finalists Neyland have not entered the competition this year, throwing the Dyfed group wide open. 2021 regional finalists Cresselly are arguably the favourites to progress from this group and host Drefach in round two on May 8.
Teams in Devon & Cornwall, Northumberland, North Yorkshire (South), West Midlands, Warwickshire, West Sussex and Northamptonshire also get underway in round two while across the border in Scotland, Meigle, who reached the last 16 in 2021, travel to Doune with a place in round three at stake.
Herefordshire & Powys, with just three teams, is the final group to get started, with 2020 champions Colwall hosting West Malvern in round three on May 22. The winner will face Fownhope Strollers, who are just five wins from Lord’s, in the regional final on June 5.
Both the Glamorgan & Gwent and Bedfordshire & Hertfordshire groups are worth keeping an eye on.
2021 finalists Alvanley travel to Birch Vale & Thornsett (Photo: Aaron Parsons)
In Wales, 2021 regional finalists Tondu host 2004 champions Sully Centurions in round one, with a second round tie against two-time finalists Ynysygerwn awaiting the victor and a possible clash with 2001 champions Ynystawe to follow.
Three-time champions Reed, who dominated the 2010s, enter the competition in round two with a home tie against Wheathampstead in Beds & Herts while 2020 finalists Redbourn host new faces Bayford & Hertford Nondescripts in round one. Redbourn endured a torrid 2021, crashing out to Sawbridgeworth in round two, and the two sides could meet again this year, results permitting.
Elsewhere, two-time champions Goatacre (Dorset & Wiltshire), who came the closest to eliminating Calmore in 2021, face Witchampton in round one, Houghton Main (West Yorkshire) host Old Sharlston, and Valley End (Surrey) and Glynde & Beddingham (East Sussex) face Outwood (round one) and Mayfield (round three), respectively.
And then of course, in Worcestershire, there’s Astwood Bank – two-time finalists, 2019 semi-finalists and serial regional champions – who face a tricky home tie against Dumbleton in round two. Could this finally be their year?
The draw for the national rounds is TBC. The first national round will take place on June 19, with matches taking place on a fortnightly basis until the semi-finals on July 31.
2022 Voneus Village Cup fixtures
Keep up to date with the Voneus Village Cup by following the competition on Twitter (@TheCricketerNVC) and Instagram (@villagecup)
