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# Disappointment for Diocese of Lichfield cricket team after cup final defeat
- URL: https://lichfieldlive.co.uk/disappointment-for-diocese-of-lichfield-cricket-team-after-cup-final-defeat/
- Published: 2011-09-09T18:05:42.000Z
- Updated: 2011-09-09T18:05:48.000Z
- Author: Lichfield Live
- Tags: Sport, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-07-22 19:32

[![Action from the Diocese of Lichfield's Church Times Cricket Cup final](https://storage.ghost.io/c/e3/90/e390c3da-0866-4d2a-8ffe-ca4999d7ce1c/content/images/lichfieldlive-co-uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/lichfield-11.jpg "Action from the Diocese of Lichfield's Church Times Cricket Cup final")](//lichfieldlive.co.uk/2011/09/09/in-pictures-diocese-of-lichfield-miss-out-on-church-times-cricket-cup/lichfield-11/)

Action from the Diocese of Lichfield's Church Times Cricket Cup final

The Lichfield Diocesan Clergy Cricket Club are returning home from the Church Times Cricket Cup with the trophy – but it’s the runners up one after Guildford snatched a last-gasp winner at Middlesex’s Walker Ground in north London.

Before the match, both teams predicted a low scoring affair after inspecting the poor quality wicket, and their prediction turned out to be true. Lichfield won the toss and decided to bat first, running up 104 in their innings, which had been reduced to 40 overs from 50 because of the weather forecast.

The signs were good for Lichfield when Guildford lost their first two innings early on, but it was a very close match throughout and the Surrey men ploughed on and produced a late flourish to win the match by two runs in the final over at 106 for nine.

After congratulating Guildford on their win, the Lichfield Captain, the Revd Jeff Reynolds, the Methodist Superintendent Minister of Stafford, asked his Guildford counterpart to look after the cup, adding:

> “We’re hoping to win it back next year!”

The Revd Phil Searle, a former Team Vicar in the Stoke-on-Trent Team, lifted the mood by reminding the players just how far they had come in recent years. He explained:

> “Five years ago reaching the semi-final was unthinkable; and just a couple of years ago, just appearing in the final and lifting the runners up trophy would have been considered a major achievement.”

Jeff Reynolds praised the team for their performance and picked out individual contributions, including the Revd Paul Darlington, Vicar of Holy Trinity, Oswestry, who piled on 40 of Lichfield’s runs.

Two years ago Lichfield made it through to their first ever semi-final, before reaching the final last year and lifting the cup.

The recent success and profile of the Lichfield Clergy Cricket Club has produced numerous requests for games. Extra players are being sought for next year when the team will take on a bumper set of fixtures, including games against Rugeley Power Station and St George’s Cricket Club in Telford as part of celebrations to mark the 150th anniversary of St George’s Church.

The race to next year’s Church Times Cricket Cup Final begins in the Spring when regional heats take place.