FINCHAMPSTEAD were thrashed by eight wickets at Tring Park, one of the three sides below them in the Home Counties Premier League Division One table.

But at least they are now safe from relegation as they can no longer be overhauled by the bottom two, Horspath and tailenders Slough.

However, their eight-wicket hiding by Tring, the side immediately below them in the table, came after another disappointing performance, with this limited-overs game lasting less than 52 overs.

When these two sides met at Finchampstead earlier in the season, they racked up 633 runs between them in a game that went beyond 8pm, but last Saturday's return fixture saw just 246 runs and was all over by mid-afternoon.

On a day when once again they were unable to name a full-strength side, Finch were rolled over for 122 in 35.1 overs despite making a promising start after being put in to bat.

Greg Smith and Oli Soames put on 39 for the first wicket before both were dismissed in quick succession with Soames being run out for 15 when attempting a second run and Smith was caught at extra cover off the bowling of Alex Woodland for 22.

And it was medium-pacer Woodland who went on to be the chief destroyer, taking 6-24 in 10 overs. His first five victims were caught before clean bowling Connor Corlet.

Apart from Smith and Soames, only Ed Oliver (16) and Corlet (11) managed to get into double figures, while their second-highest contributor were extras which totalled 21, 14 of which were wides.

Skipper Dan Lincoln managed only eight runs before being caught at long-off, but he has now passed 500 runs in the league this season.

Lincoln also took over the wicketkeeping duties at Tring and was involved in the two wickets to fall, taking David Burnell (8) off Craig Hodges (1-14) and man-of-the-match Woodland (43) off Adam Dewes (1-20).

The wickets fell at 14 and 93 as Tring cruised home in just 16.3 overs, during which Finch used seven different bowlers.

Michael Payne finished unbeaten on 44 from 43 balls and Charlie Macdonell 19, with 90 of Tring's total of 124 coming in boundaries.

Finchampstead host their last home game of the season this coming Saturday when Banbury are the visitors.

A win for the visitors would all but secure the runners-up spot behind champions Henley.