Posted: June 25

Woodlands clinched the last place in the Sovereign Health Care Priestley Shield semi-finals today when they defeated Pudsey St Lawrence by five wickets.

They will now face East Bierley while Bowling Old Lane tackle Great Horton in an all Second Division tie on Sunday July 9. The venues for both matches will have to be switched because both Woodlands and Bowling Old Lane, who were drawn at home, also have home ties in the Sovereign Health Care Priestley Cup.

It means that East Bierley will now be at home against Woodlands and Great Horton will play hosts to Bowling Old Lane.

Woodlands secured their win thanks to a good all-round performance from Stephen Pearson. He took five for 52 as St Lawrence were bowled out in 46.3 overs for 242, and followed up by making 40 not out as Woodlands eased home with ten balls to spare.

Phil Wilson (96) and Wasim Raffiq (73) batted superbly for St Lawrence, but Pearson and skipper Phil Walker (3-34) ensured that St Lawrence didn't make a far bigger total.

Woodlands paced their reply well with skipper Walker (51), Michael Pearson (40no), Stephen Pearson (40no), Cieran Garner (36) and Michael Clarke (31) all making valuable contributions.

Woodlands now face East Bierley who gained revenge for the defeat they suffered in last year's Sovereign Health Care Priestley Shield final to Yeadon by bowling out the visitors for a 122 run victory on Monday evening.

East Bierley followed up their Bradford League record score of 435 for seven against Bankfoot by making 293 for five against the Shield holders. Craig Johnston top scored with 79 not out, while skipper Matthew Anderson (64), Arron Brook (54) and Terry Staniforth (48) all made telling contributions. Anderson's half-century was scored in 27 balls.

Yeadon ran into early trouble when they replied as Chris Brook took three for 13 in seven overs. The visitors were struggling at 88 for four after 22 overs when bad light stopped play on Sunday.

When play resumed, Daren Machell (58) and Will Darby (61) added 91 for the fifth wicket to give Yeadon hope of victory, but it was not to be enough as Bierley's bowlers ran through the lower order once the two were parted. Chris Brook finished as the pick of the bowlers with 5-13.

Great Horton's fine batting display on Sunday was the main reason behind their victory against Lightcliffe. They made 270 for nine with skipper Shabbir Ellahi (48no), Numan Ahfan (46) and Nasir Choudry (35) making contributions.

Gareth Stevens (3-48) was the best Lightcliffe bowler. When his side replied they reached 90 for three off 22 overs when bad light stopped play.

Resuming on Monday Steven Hartley (35), Javed Iqbal (31) and Gareth Stevens (30) all got starts but they were not enough in the end as Lightcliffe ended all out for 138. Zubair Ashraf (3-18) was the main wicket-taker for Great Horton.

Bowling Old Lane, currently leading Division Two, matched their first team's feat and reached the semi-finals of their knockout competition with a thrilling three run victory over Pudsey Congs. Old Lane made 205 for nine and Congs had reached 43 for two in reply after 15 overs when bad light halted play on Monday.

Upon resumption, several Pudsey Congs batsmen got sizeable scores to put them in with a good chance of victory, with Paul Eachus (53) the main contributor. However, with 4 runs needed for victory off the last ball Eachus was caught out and Bowling Old Lane made it through to the semi-final.

The remaining quarter final between Pudsey St Lawrence and Woodlands will be played on June 25th, after both club's first teams were drawn at home in this round.