It has been 36 years since Lightcliffe last appeared in a Sovereign Health Care Priestley Cup final and they are hoping they can bring that barren spell to an end on Sunday.

It won’t be easy though because they face a tough semi-final at Tofts Road against a Pudsey St Lawrence side who are currently third in Division One and have qualified for the Dyson Energy Services Twenty20 final.

It is an indication of the contrasting fortunes of the two clubs in recent times that St Lawrence have featured in six finals in the period since Lightcliffe lost to Manningham Mills in 1977.

Interestingly, both clubs have won the competition five times – but while St Lawrence’s most recent triumph was in 2011, when they defeated East Bierley, you have to go back 49 years to 1964 for the last of Lightcliffe’s successes.

Lightcliffe skipper Chris Taylor is aware of the challenge facing his men and said: “St Lawrence are a good side with players who can win matches from number one right down to 11.

“They are experienced in cup cricket and we know that they have the backing of a partisan crowd whenever they play at their home ground. But that is all part of the challenge.

“We would love to get to the final and to win silverware but to do it we have to beat sides like St Lawrence.”

While the experience of former Yorkshire and Derbyshire player Taylor and ex-St Lawrence all-rounder Alex Stead will be seen by many observers as being key to Lightcliffe’s hopes, two emerging teenagers could play important roles.

All-rounder Oliver Robinson, 19, has been having trial games with Yorkshire Seconds after impressing during his debut season in the JCT600 Bradford League. His unbeaten 99 in the victory over Woodlands was a most impressive knock and showed his ability to play under pressure.

Meanwhile, 14-year-old left-arm spinner Daanyaal Ahmed has probably slipped below most people’s radar but many good judges have been impressed with the confidence he has shown since coming into the Lightcliffe side.

His ten overs cost just 32 runs against Woodlands and Taylor has not been afraid to back his young bowler.

The captain said: “He doesn’t say a lot on the field, he just gets on with his bowling. He has done really well for us.”

Bradford & Bingley will be hoping to make the most of their second chance when they visit Hanging Heaton in the other semi-final.

They were reprieved when the result of their quarter-final was overturned after Bankfoot were ruled to have fielded an ineligible player.

Bradford & Bingley’s league form has been extremely patchy and Hanging Heaton, already through to next month’s Heavy Woollen Cup final against New Farnley, are hungry for more cup success.