CHRIS Brice and Sam Frankland jointly lifted the Solly Sports Heavy Woollen Cup after Woodlands defeated Hoylandswaine by three wickets in the final.

It was the second time in three seasons that they have won the competition, and on each occasion their victims have been the Drakes Huddersfield League side.

For Hoylandswaine this was their third successive final defeat but their time will surely come to have their name engraved on the cup.

Woodlands seem to be developing into cup specialists.

Heavy Woollen Cup wins in 2015 and 2017 have come either side of their Priestley Cup triumph of last season.

Just like in 2015, they won without their regular captain.

Two years ago Pieter Swanepoel was in South Africa when they defeated Hoylandswaine at Ossett, and this time Tim Jackson was setting off on holiday when the final was being played at Hanging Heaton.

Hoylandswaine had first use of another good Bennett Lane pitch and will no doubt consider that their total of 213 was under par.

Half centuries from Gurnan Randhawa (57) and former Methley and Cleckheaton batsman Chris Holliday (51) were the key contributions to their score.

Paceman Elliot Richardson was the most successful bowler with 3-39 but acting skipper Chris Brice was the most effective.

He took 2-23 in his ten overs and kept the scoring rate in check at a key time.

Woodlands lost stand-in opener Jamie Pickering early but recovered with a decisive second-wicket stand of 107 between Frankland and wicket-keeper Greg Finn.

Frankland struck 12 fours in his 67, while Finn's 53 included a six and seven fours.

Alex Atkinson chipped in with 34 before his dismissal triggered the loss of four wickets for 14 runs as Woodlands slipped to 208-7.

Mark Lawson, who was man of the match when New Farnley defeated Hoylandswaine in the 2016 final, then steered his side home in partnership with Jack McGahan.

Imran Arif, the former Saltaire and Hanging Heaton bowler, took 2-27 for Hoylandswaine before Woodlands reached their target with 11 overs to spare.