Hanging Heaton and Lightcliffe will contest this season’s JCT600 Bradford League's Sovereign Health Care Priestley Cup final at Farsley on Sunday, August 25.

Both ended long waits yesterday  to reach the final. Hanging Heaton last made it in 2000, while Lightcliffe’s last appearance was back in 1977.

And both clubs have to go back even further for the last time they lifted the trophy.

Hanging Heaton gained the second of their two successive final wins in 1986, while Lightcliffe claimed the last of their five cup victories in 1964.

Given those statistics, it is easy to understand the delight of the two clubs in winning their semi-final encounters.

Hanging Heaton saw off Bradford & Bingley by eight wickets, while Lightcliffe defeated Pudsey St Lawrence by 24 runs.

Former Yorkshire all-rounder Gary Fellows produced the innings of the day. He made a sparkling 136 as Hanging Heaton, already through to play New Farnley in the Solly Sports Heavy Woollen Cup final, defeated Bradford & Bingley at Bennett Lane.

Fellows struck two sixes and 17 fours and was joined in a second-wicket stand of 199 by Joe Fraser (82no) as Hanging Heaton overhauled the visitors' score of 253.

Alex Atkinson was the cornerstone of their innings with a fine knock of 121, but his colleagues were pegged back by the efforts of Dan Busfield (5-46) and Mark Lawson (3-36).

Lightcliffe’s success at Tofts Road was down to their batsmen. Overseas player Suleman Khan top- scored with 68, while the former St Lawrence trio of Chris Taylor (67), Alex Stead (48) and David Hester (41) all made runs against their old club as Lightcliffe compiled 288-6.

Former Yorkshire left-armer Paul Hutchison was the pick of the Saints bowlers with 3-65.

St Lawrence made a spirited response but lost wickets at crucial times and were dismissed for 264.

Callam Goldthorp (48), Jordan Thompson (46), Chris Marsden (45), Mark Robertshaw (42) and Adam Waite (33) were the main contributors as spinner Khan finished with 3-34.