PUDSEY St Lawrence's young guns won the Sovereign Health Care Priestley Shield with an impressive 141-run win over Bradford & Bingley at Hanging Heaton.

It was a deserved reward for a side who won a lot of admirers when they lost last year's final to an experienced Hanging Heaton side by five wickets.

Now they will be hoping to add the Second Teams Division Two title to round off a season which has seen many of their talented youngsters produce mature and match-winning performances.

Opening bowler Jordan Moore was chosen as man of the match by adjudicator John Carruthers for his decisive opening spell of 4-45, but wicketkeeper Jack Allman, and openers Duncan Butler and Archie Scott must have run him close.

From the moment their experienced skipper Iain Priestley won the toss and elected to bat, St Lawrence dominated the game.

Butler, who hit a six and 12 fours in his 68, and Scott (53) laid the foundations with an excellent opening stand of 120.

Allman, who like Scott is a member of the Bradford Junior League under-17 side that will play Wetherby in the final of the Joe Lumb Competition on August 30, built on their good work.

He quickened the tempo with an unbeaten 89 from just 65 balls, striking one six and 14 fours.

Moore and Chris Sharkey, whose 25 included four sixes, were able to play with freedom thanks to the work of the top order batsmen.

There was simply no respite for the Bradford & Bingley bowlers as St Lawrence racked up a daunting 325-8.

The persevering Freddie Binns was the most-successful bowler with 3-67.

Even the evergeen Richard McCarthy, once the master of economy with his pace bowling, came under attack with his off spin as he finished with 1-50 from seven overs.

If Bradford & Bingley were to challenge for victory they needed a good start. Sadly, the opposite happened.

Their skipper Warren Allitt has waited 30 years to play in a final but he won't have happy memories as he was lbw to the first ball of the innings to be dismissed for a golden duck.

The early success clearly inspired Moore.

He followed up with the important wickets of McCarthy, Ryan Norris and Phil Broadley as Bradford & Bingley's uphill task became an impossible one.

Norris (33) was top scorer for Bradford & Bingley while a spirited 27 from Zac Critchelow helped swell the total to a respectable 184.

With Bradford & Bingley's later order desperately looking for quick runs, Scott cashed in with 3-14 to wrap up the innings.

The victory was every bit as comprehensive as the scoreboard suggested.

Bradford & Bingley, who like St Lawrence have a largely youthful side, now face a battle to avoid relegation.

They can learn and draw inspiration from the way St Lawrence turned the despair and disappointment of last year's final defeat, into triumph.

Bradford & Bingley can come back stronger for the experience and it is to be hoped that Lady Luck will shine more kindly on their captain.