KNARESBOROUGH showed their cup pedigree when they disposed of Steeton in Sunday's Airedale and Wharfedale League Waddilove Cup final at Bilton. A splendid effort by the Bilton club was well rewarded with a brilliant, sunny day.

Knaresborough won the toss and elected to bat but it was when they were bowling that they found their hero in skipper Steve Booth, the former Somerset slow left armer. He put himself on at the start of the Steeton innings took 7-53 off 19.4 overs as Steeton were put out for 101 in reply to Knaresborough's 156-8.

Booth was well supported by Mal Brittain who took 3-38 off 20 overs as the pair bowled unchanged.

Knaresborough were given a steady start by Jon Corcoran (22) and Mark Stanford (20). This was built on by a spelndid 43 from Brett Crabtree. They reached 121-3 on a wicket that was never very helpful to the batsmen.

The wicket was soft and the bowlers fought back well with White Rose player Guy Saxton especially effective with 2-36 off 14 overs. His accuracy pinned Knaresborough down and denied the tail the chance of getting on top although Booth provided a flourish with a knock of 21.

Crabtree's was a well crafted innings but he finally fell to a catch by young Australian Matthew Pinnegar to become the first of Gary Boulton's three victims.

Neil Spragg also bowled well and will be sorely missed by the league X1 on Sunday when he is on holiday.

Knaresborough's final score of 156 was always competitive if not winning.

Booth and Brittain however held the aces and the cup went to Knaresborough for the eighth time in ten final appearances.

None of the Steeton batsmen could really handle Booth although opener Russell Newton with 25 and skipper Andrew Smith with 19 made a fight of it. Booth's seven wickets assured him of the Man-of-the-Match award from adjudicator Norman Threapleton, of Guiseley, who is soon to celebrate his 80th birthday.

Booth became the third Knaresborough bowler to claim seven wickets in a Waddilove Cup final. In 1980 Trevor Mead took 7-19 while in 1971 David Marshall took 7-44.

In his presentation speech the retiring league President Denys Bull thanked the Bilton club and all who had helped on the day.

He also thanked the match sponsors H B Clark of Keighley whose representative - the Hall Park player Peter Kempton - was present throughout the game.

The umpires Keith Walker and Peter Towler received commemorative medals and the players of both sides received trophies .

Knaresborough.- J Corocoran b Saxton 22, M Standford c Barrett b Taylor 20,B Crabtree c Pinnegar b Boulton 43, P Thompson c Smith b Saxton 1, B Lunt c Hedges b Boulton 25, J Dodman run out 7, S Carey b Spragg 2, S Booth b Boulton 21, R Tattersall not out 5; x 10; ttl;. 156-8.

Did not bat: R Procter, M Brittain.

Bowling: C Taylor 17-4-48-1; G Saxton 14-3-36-2; N Spragg 8-1-21-1; G Boulton 6-0-41-3.

Steeton.- R Newton c Thompson b Brittain 25, R Wynn lbw Booth 2, M Pinnegar b Brittain 10, N Spragg b Booth 8, M Hedges c Carey b Booth 1, D Robinson b Booth 2, A Smith st Tattersall b Booth 19, G Saxton lbw Brittain 3, G Boulton c Stanford b Booth 1, P Barrett not out 16, C Taylor b Booth 3; x 11; ttl. 101.

Bowling: M Brittain 20-8-38-3; S Booth 19.4-6-53-7.

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