WOODLANDS skipper Cieran Garner and his side are looking to complete one half of a potential double this weekend by retaining the Priestley Cup - after admitting winning last year’s trophy by default felt “embarrassing”.

Weather permitting, Garner’s side entertain Lightcliffe in the All Rounder Cricket Bradford Premier League Premier Division tomorrow.

This will be followed by them facing New Farnley in the Priestley Cup final on Sunday.

Woodlands are the holders after being awarded the trophy in unusual circumstances last year.

The showpiece did not take place for the first time in its 114-year history after opponents Farsley conceded when rain washed out play and several of the Farsley team were unavailable for the following day’s reserve date.

Woodlands were subsequently awarded the Priestley Cup on a forfeiture.

Now, 12 months on, Garner hopes his side can actually take to the field for Sunday’s showpiece and win the trophy outright.

He said: “We want to come out on top having won a game.

“When we got presented with the trophy last year it felt embarrassing. It felt a little bit surreal. It was a really strange day.

“It did not feel like we had won. In some ways we have forgotten it. If we were playing the same opponents it might feel different.

“It’s good that we have the opportunity to win it outright in the right manner. It was not the way we would have wanted it last year. It is one of the biggest games in the calendar.”

Meanwhile, before Sunday’s cup final Woodlands will be looking to bounce back from the Premier Division’s biggest shock of the season – their 16-run defeat to strugglers Wrenthorpe last weekend.

The defeat sees them still lead second-placed Bradford & Bingley by 18 points as well as having a game in hand.

Garner says his side will be fully focused on their league clash first, before switching their attention to their cup clash from Saturday night onwards.

He added: “We are having a really good season, we had a hiccup last week which some people saw as an upset. But anybody can beat anybody else this year.

“There’s no getting away from how big the challenge is. New Farnley or Lightcliffe are not to be under-estimated.

“Our biggest learning curves have come from the defeats we have had.

“In some ways, our loss to Wrenthorpe put our mind firmly on Saturday in the league. We have stated that we are fully focused on getting a result on Saturday now.

“It’s completely in our hands. We have a healthy lead in the table as Bingley have played one more game than us. There’s a hell of a long way to go yet. We still have to play Pudsey and Bradford & Bingley. It can change so quickly.”

Elsewhere in the Premier Division, Woodlands’s nearest title rivals Bradford & Bingley look to close the gap at the top when they travel to sixth-placed Farsley.

Pudsey St Lawrence, who are third, are on the road when they battle eighth-placed New Farnley.

Fourth-placed Cleckheaton host Undercliffe, who are five places below them in the top flight.

Townville will be looking to further climb the table from fifth place when they entertain bottom-placed Methley.

In the division’s remaining game, Hanging Heaton, who are seventh, host third-from-bottom Wrenthorpe.