Woodlands retained the Solly Sports Crowther Cup with a comfortable six-wicket win over Birstall at Ossett.

The holders had 24.4 overs to spare as they cruised past a disappointing Birstall total of 114 in the cross-league second-team competition.

The Central Yorkshire League side, who had beaten newly-crowned JCT600 Bradford League second teams Division One champions Morley in the semi-finals, lost their last nine wickets for just 36 runs.

They failed to capitalise on the best innings of the match from Richard Sidle, the forceful opener making 55 from 72 balls with a six and eight fours.

Sidle dominated the bowling but few would have predicted what would happen once he was caught by Nick Ward off the bowling of Elliot Richardson.

At 78-2, Birstall looked set to post a challenging score on a good wicket and fast outfield, but lost their way.

Experienced off-spinner Phil Walker, who was later chosen as man of the match by the umpires, and Richardson ripped out the middle order.

Walker returned the excellent figures of 10-5-21-4, while Richardson took 2-19 in his seven overs.

There were certainly no demons in the pitch but the Birstall batsmen seemed to find ways of getting out.

Birstall knew they had to strike early if they were to have any chance of winning the game.

They received a double boost as they removed Cieran Garner and Tom Clee cheaply – and when Walker departed with the score on 36, Birstall had high hopes.

But Woodlands were in no mood to relinquish their grip on the cup, with Richardson and opener Nicky Ward (25) sharing a fourth-wicket stand of 46 before Jack Carter (25no) and Richardson (36no) saw their side to victory.