Whitehurst hopes to lead Gomersal on their big day (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Whitehurst hopes to lead Gomersal on their big day

5:27pm Friday 29th July 2011 in Bradford League By Alan Birkinshaw

Gomersal will hope to put their relegation struggles behind them as they take on Shepley in the Solly Sports Heavy Woollen Cup final at Spen Victoria on Sunday.

It is an indication of the type of season Gomersal are having that they have won one more game – four – in reaching the final than they have in JCT600 Bradford League Division One this season.

The cup has seemed to bring the best out of them but they will need to summon up another big performance if they are to overcome their Drakes Huddersfield League opponents.

Shepley showed what they are capable of when they defeated Woodlands in the quarter-finals by three wickets, and they also have the knowledge that they beat Gomersal by 85 runs when the sides met in last season’s competition.

Gomersal’s cup run has seen them defeat Liversedge by 95 runs, Spen Victoria by eight runs, Delph & Dobcross by 138 runs and Hanging Heaton by three wickets.

The victory over Drakes Huddersfield League leaders Delph & Dobcross was impressive, but it couldn’t beat the semi-final win for drama. Greg Pickles (106no) hit a six off the last ball to seal victory.

Skipper Richard Whitehurst has been nursing an ankle injury all week but hopes to play in Gomersal’s first Heavy Woollen Cup final since 1994.

Whitehurst said: “I am optimistic that I will be okay. I have had a lot of pain but I don’t want to miss out on the game if I can help it.

“There are many players who never play in finals. I have only previously played in one Priestley Cup final for East Bierley in 1993, “This is a big match for us and I am sure that if we can win it will provide our spectators with something to remember the season by.

“It is also a special day for our younger players like Andy Gorrod (18) and Jack Seddon (16). There should be a good crowd at Spen and we should be well supported.

“As a side we need to produce the sort of form that has got us this far. We know Shepley are a good team but it is all about what happens on the day.”

Gomersal: Gorrod, Greenwood, Rashid, Khan, Pickles, Platt, Lloyd, Whitehurst, Seddon, Zeb, Russell.