East Bierley celebrate Priestley Cup victory (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

East Bierley celebrate Priestley Cup victory

5:14pm Monday 31st August 2009 in Sport By Bill Marshall

East Bierley – who lost their first seven Bradford League knockout deciders – were comfortable winners of the rain-interrupted Sovereign Health Care Priestley Cup final at Wagon Lane today.

There was little doubt that they would extend their record in first-team finals to seven wins and 11 defeats.

Against a Farsley side that lacked Yorkshire’s James Lee on Sunday, Bierley rack-ed up 272 for nine, the Leeds side replying with 71 for one off 15 overs before the elements took the contest into a second day.

That meant that Farsley were also without their skipper David Syers (playing for Farsley Celtic) and the unavailable Chris Henry.

Having lost key player Lorenzo Inghram overnight, Farsley needed a good start yesterday.

However, they lost Harpal Ryatt and Gareth Phillips for the addition of one run, and the only glimmer of hope came when Shabbir Rashid planted accurate left-arm spinner Luke Jarvis for six over ‘cow corner’ and hit off-spinner Kez Ahmed for another maximum behind the bowler’s head.

Once Rashid had spooned a dolly into the offside, Ashley Metcalfe and Joe Greaves were becalmed and Farsley’s innings petered out, Phillips and Greaves both falling to needless run- outs.

A delighted Bierley captain Paul Hutchison said: “It is disappointing when a match has to go into a second day but Andrew Renn-ison batted really well. We wanted to score over 250 but had to rebuild after losing a couple of early wickets.

“Luke, particularly, and Kez bowled well and it is good that I can turn to them if the quick bowlers either get some tap or take wickets themselves.”

Metcalfe said: “You have to give full credit to East Bier-ley. They are just about the best side in the league this year and when they play well they are a very difficult side to beat.

“They batted better than us and bowled better than us and were worthy winners.

“You cannot do anything about the weather, and it is the same for both sides, but it isn’t easy coming back on a second day and having to start again when you are chasing a big score.”