NORTHWOOD claimed the 2023 Fred Winter Cup with a comfortable victory over Cowes in the final on Saturday.

After losing the toss and being put into bat, Cowes began disastrously — losing their first four wickets with 12 runs on the scoreboard.

Cowes then slumped to 36-6, before making a recovery with an 83-run partnership between Reece Attrill and Mark Hartnell (86) — eventually clawing their way to 159 all out.

Callum Witham (3-33) and Liam Roberts (2-26) were the pick of the Northwood bowlers.

The total gave them something to defend, but well shy of what they needed to make it competitive against a side with a solid batting line-up.

In reply, Northwood started their innings the polar opposite of how Cowes fared — an opening partnership of 109 between John Jones and Witham, with Jones falling to Jason Heap's bowling for 45.

Heap then clean bowled the normally destructive Roberts for 11, but with too many runs on the board, Witham got them to just within the finish line with an excellent 77, with a seven-wicket victory soon following.