Top dogs are through to Priestley Cup semi-finals (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Top dogs are through to Priestley Cup semi-finals

5:10pm Monday 18th June 2012 in Sport By Alan Birkinshaw, Weeklies Sports Editor

The cream is certainly rising to the top in the JCT600 Bradford League’s Sovereign Health Care Priestley Cup.

Division One leaders Woodlands and second-placed East Bierley are both through to the semi-finals, having defeated the front-running duo in Division Two.

Woodlands saw off Yeadon by 82 runs, while East Bierley defeated Baildon by six wickets.

No play was possible in the remaining ties between Pudsey Congs and Hanging Heaton and Lightcliffe v Manningham Mills.

The latter tie will be played next Sunday but the re-arranged date for Congs v Hanging Heaton tie has yet to be confirmed as Congs are due to stage a Yorkshire second-team match next Monday and need time for pitch preparation, while Hanging Heaton have a Kingfisher Cup tie at Nottinghamshire Premier League side Cuckney next Sunday.

The clubs have been told to sort out a date and come back to the league but the semi-final draw will still be made on Saturday at the East Bierley v Woodlands league clash – probably between innings.

The Sovereign Health Care Priestley Shield semi-final draw will be made at the same time.

Woodlands recovered from the early loss of their opener Scott Richardson for a duck with a superb second-wicket stand of 150 between Simon Mason and Sam Frankland.

Mason was at his forceful best, striking four sixes and eight fours as he made a superb 86. Frankland’s (81) contained three sixes and eight fours.

Their batting gave Woodlands control of the game and enabled them to post a total of 253-5. Second-teamer Nick Hudson (3-45) was the pick of the bowlers.

Yeadon made 171 in reply, with their experienced all-rounder Damon Gormley top-scoring with 53.

Woodlands’ back-up bowlers Stephen Piercey (3-16) and Frankland (3-43) were their most successful bowlers.

Baildon opener Gharib Razak made 45 against his old club but Kasir Maroof (34) was the only other batsman to make a significant contribution as Baildon slipped from 89-2 to 129-7 in a match reduced to 39 overs a side. Neil Gill (4-14) sparked the slide.

East Bierley knocked off the runs for the loss of four wickets with Lee Goddard (55) and Andrew Rennison (44no) leading the way.

In the Sovereign Health Care Priestley Shield, Division Two side Keighley sent Division One leaders Hanging Heaton to a 99-run defeat as they clinched their place in the semi-finals.

Keighley, who knocked holders Gomersal out in the first round, made an impressive 259-5, with Luke Chapman hitting a superb 107.

He was well supported by Paul Wilkinson (68), Mark Inwood being the most successful Hanging Heaton bowler with three wickets but they cost 94 runs.

Hanging Heaton were dismissed for 160, despite Paul Eachus (48) and Howard Ellis (39). Hammy Shahzad (3-38) and Alex Towler (3-52) sealed Keighley’s win.

Morley also clinched their place in the last four with a four-wicket win over the 2010 beaten finalists Baildon.

Tom Hopwood (30) top-scored for Baildon, while off- spinner Jerome Austin (3-23) was the most successful bowler.

Morley had their difficulties but reached their target with four wickets in hand thanks to Michael Davies (31). Baildon’s best bowler was Muhammad Bilal (3-9).

Bradford & Bingley will play Great Horton next Sunday, while the remaining tie between Lightcliffe and Woodlands, which was originally due for next Sunday, will now be played on July 1.

That is due to Lightcliffe’s Priestley Cup tie with Manningham Mills, abandoned yesterday, will now need to be played next Sunday..