Stand-in skipper Henry Rush and James McNichol hit half centuries as Division One side Morley sent Pudsey St Lawrence crashing out of the Gordon Rigg Priestley Cup at the first-round stage.

Rush made 61 and McNichol 50 not out as their side chased down their Premier Division opponents’ score of 183 with 10 overs to spare.

Rush – deputising for the ill Matthew Dowse – was dismissed with the scores level and that enabled McNichol to return to the crease after retiring hurt on 49 to complete his fifty with the winning run.

What made Morley’s win more satisfying was that two of their second team bowlers, Gordon Thomson and Gavin Goodlad, made important contributions.

Thomson took 1-23 in 10 tight overs, but it was Goodlad who stole the limelight by taking 3-41 as St Lawrence collapsed to 72-6.

Harry Cullingford (41) and Charlie Parker (38) led a counter-attack but with overseas player Ali Usman retuning figures of 2-14 from 10 tight overs of left-arm spin, St Lawrence were dismissed for 183.

Morley’s reward for their win is another home tie against the winners of next Sunday’s tie between Farsley and Bankfoot.