Alton picked up their first W&D trophy in their first season in the competition, romping to victory in last Thursday's Tichborne final at, appropriately enough, Tichborne Park.

Darren Vann, Andy Tapp and Michael Heffernan were the stars of the show as Alton overpowered below-strength Hursley.

After an unsteady start, the Alton innings blossomed during a fourth-wicket stand of 112 between Vann and Heffernan.

They steadily upped the tempo throughout the innings, Vann reaching his fifty with a straight six that Oli Green tipped over the rope, and Heffernan following suit with an even bigger six.

Vann was eventually bowled going for another big hit in the 20th and last over for 64, while Heffernan finished undefeated on 57 as Alton posted an imposing 156 for 4.

Hursley's best bowlers were Green and Dave Greetham, both of whom took 1 for 29 in five overs, but Hursley's out-cricket was below par and six catches were dropped.

Things went from bad to worse for Hursley in the first over of their reply. Not only did Jerry Pang-Kessler deliver a maiden, but James Kennedy was run out without facing a ball after a misunderstanding with fellow opener Raman Prendergast left both batsmen at the same end.

Prendergast (30) and Paul Marks (24) gave the innings some substance with a second-wicket stand of 60, but that was the only bright point for Hursley.

Slow bowler Andy Tapp worked his way through the batting with a spell of 5 for 19 which earned him the competition's bowling award while Vann added three stumpings and a catch to his decisive innings. In the end Hursley were all out for 96.

At the end of a match umpired in inimitable style by Neville Cheyney and Tosh Whitear, triumphant Alton skipper Bruce Oliphant took charge of the trophy, presented by W&D's Jeff Levick.

Oliphant will be hoping to make it a Cup double on Monday week when his side take on Easton & Martyr Worthy in the final of the Hampshire Chronicle Cup.

The most entertaining part of the evening, though, was seeing W&D secretary Steve Vear beating a hasty retreat in his car in the face of a determined assault by the Tichborne Estate's cattle. The car was fortunate to escape with windscreen wipers intact.

Apparently the cows, attracted by the salty taste, are fond of the rubber blades!