Bierley target cup hat-trick

3:11pm Friday 19th September 2008

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East Bierley bid to equal Undercliffe’s record of three successive Sovereign Health Care Priestley Shield final wins when they take on Cleckheaton at Moorend tomorrow (11am).

The Intake Road side are the only ones to have achieved the feat so far – between 1984 and 1986 –but Bierley are favourites to join them, having just won the Bradford League Second Teams Division One championship for the second year running.

It would also complete a double for the club because their first team produced the only hat-trick of Priestley Cup wins between 1998 and 2000.

The league champions are playing in their fifth successive final but will be without one of their key batsmen.

Left-handed opener Arron Brook, who scored an unbeaten 144 when his side beat Bowling Old Lane in the 2006 final, is on a stag weekend in Prague.

Cleck’s big weapons could be the Walmsley twins, who have been in outstanding form. Marcus has scored 802 runs in the league and taken over 52 wickets, while Edward has made 428 runs and captured 46 wickets with his off-spin.