JOSH Griffin will fly the flag for the west of the county in the 2017 Oxfordshire Sports Awards, writes Mark Edwards.

The rugby league star, who helped Hull FC beat Wigan Warriors in the Challenge Cup final at Wembley, took up the game while living in Witney.

He is on the shortlist for the sportsman of the year category.

But he faces stiff competition from Abingdon golfer Eddie Pepperell, who recorded seven top-ten finishes in eight European Tour events, and Luke Southwood, a goalkeeper in the England Under 20 squad that won football’s World Cup.

The 27-year-old Griffin was delighted at the recognition.

“It’s something that I wasn’t expecting,” he said.

“Oxford is a city with great sport links with the university which gets built up a lot and it’s a big sporting city.

“It’s an honour to be nominated for the award.

“I’m really proud to be from Oxford as it’s where I grew up before I moved to West Yorkshire when I was a teenager and it’s a really important place to me.

“Rugby league isn’t huge down there but to be from there and have my two brothers alongside me play in Super League at the same time is a big achievement for me and my family.”

Clanfield’s spectacular run in the FA Youth Cup sees them in the running for the junior sports team accolade.

The village club won four matches against higher-ranked sides to reach the second round, where they eventually lost to Dagenham & Redbridge.

Great & Little Tew cricket stalwart Gordon Taylor has been shortlisted for the unsung hero honour, having given the club 65 years service.

He was also head greenkeeper at Chipping Norton Golf Club.

The winners will be announced at an awards night, held at Oxford’s Kassam Stadium on Friday, January 19.

Tickets, priced at £42.95 for adults and £29.95 for juniors are on sale from oxspa.co.uk/osa.