IT WAS all set up to be a dream send-off for Woodlands' 'irreplaceable' long-serving overseas player Sarfraz Ahmed, who returns to Pakistan for good today.

But in the end, although the tall Pakistani had his moments with the ball, Sunday's Priestley Cup final man of the match was his long-time colleague Chris Brice.

The left-hander, who has been with the Albert Terrace club since 2003 compared to Ahmed's 2001, scored 17 in quick time to boost their score to 214-9 but more importantly took a miserly 3-14 off ten overs as Pudsey St Lawrence were dismissed for just 99 in reply.

Brice, who ran across the square to leap into Ahmed's arms at the fall of Saints' tenth wicket, said: "Saffy is a big mate of mine and it will be like having to replace three players.

"He set the tone with the ball – he always does as I have never seen anybody get after him – and we were willing him to get that last wicket when we brought him back on."

That didn't happen, however. the honour going to Kez Ahmed, who ripped through the St Lawrence lower order to earn figures of 4-11 in 25 balls, Sarfaz Ahmed taking 2-23 off his ten overs, while brothers Scott and Elliott Richardson also kept up the pressure as the Saints innings imploded.

Deciding what to do upon winning the toss after so much rain had fallen was not easy, but Woodlands decided to bat, St Lawrence leg-spinner Tom Hudson later admitting that his side would have done exactly the same had they guessed right at the coin toss.

Brice added: "Scoreboard pressure can be a big thing in finals – we have been on the other end of things – so we decided to bat.

"The wicket suited Scott's bowling, and Kez bowled unbelievably at the end."

Hudson admitted: "We felt that Woodlands might have been ten or 15 runs short. However, they batted and bowled better than us."

Pudsey St Lawrence started the match with a series of concerted appeals, although umpires Craig Chaplin and Glenn Roberts were unmoved.

There was the occasional flowing drive from Woodlands openers Sam Frankland and skipper Tim Jackson, who saw off opening bowlers Charlie Parker and Richie Lamb before taking an immediate liking to spinners Chris Marsden and Hudson.

However, the spin twins bounced back superbly, Jackson being caught for 41 off a top-edged sweep off Marsden when the score was 83.

Drinks were taken at 103-1 after 25 overs but Frankland followed soon after for 44 when Matthew Duce stumped him as Hudson spun a ball past his outside edge.

Logan Weston then dropped into the sheet-anchor role as off-spinner Marsden and Hudson weaved their web, the impetus being provided by Brice and Scott Richardson (24no) as Woodlands remarkably were in danger of not even using up their overs having only been one wicket down at halfway.

Weston was spectacularly caught on the straight boundary at the second attempt by Callum Goldthorp when he had made 49, and the consensus during the tea interval seemed to be that it was advantage St Lawrence as Lamb took 3-43 and Parker 2-37 to add to the good work by the spinners.

Only chasing 215 for victory, there was a sedate start by Saints, who lost Mark Robertshaw to an lbw decision he didn't like and fellow opener Adam Waite to a spooned catch into the outfield.

Barrie Frankland was not enamoured by his leg-before decision either, but there was no doubt about the dismissals of James Smith, who holed out at wide long off, or Marsden, whose run out made the score 55-5 and prompted the drinks interval.

After that it was the Ahmed show, with Kez taking the sixth, seventh, eighth and tenth wickets and the popular Sarfraz the ninth.

It was a one-sided final, with Woodlands winning by 115 runs, but credit is due to hosts Spen Victoria for getting the wicket and outfield in such good order after all the rain (although there were plenty of dirty flannelled fools by the end of the match) and for also doing such a good job with the car parking and indoor and outdoor catering.