Rain wrecks cup programme and forces bowl out

Gomersal became the eighth side to clinch their place in the third round of the Heavy Woollen Cup by winning a bowl out.

They won 2-0 at Liversedge on Thursday evening to emulate Saltaire, Undercliffe, Rockingham, Yeadon, Townville, Wakefield St Michael’s, and Wrenthorpe who all won bowl outs on Sunday.

The Liversedge v Gomersal bowl out was delayed because conditions were ruled to be so bad by the umpires on Sunday that they considered it unsafe to proceed.

Poor conditions also caused problems in the tie between Golcar and Carlton where the two skippers agreed to decide the tie by the toss of a coin after fears about player safety in a bowl out. The result will now have to be ratified by the Management Committee at their meeting on Tuesday when the third round draw will be made.

Two teams who made it to the third round today without playing were Idle and Delph & Dobcross. Both were given walkovers when their respective opponents, Wath and Armitage Bridge withdrew from the competition.

Clayton West and Esholt were unable to play at all but have arranged to play the tie next Sunday. The Barnsley v Doncaster and Woodlands v Methley ties are also due for next Sunday.

With very little cricket possible there wasn’t much to excite the spectators who braved the elements. At Wrenthorpe a good game looked in prospect as last season’s beaten finalists Baildon made 152-1 when rain stopped play. Simon Davies was 69 not out and Tabi Bhatti (56not out), but their efforts counted for nothing as their side lost the bowl out 2-1 to the Central Yorkshire League champions.

Townville had dismissed Shelley for 89 when their match was abandoned. Unlike Baildon, they were rewarded with a win in the bowl out.