East Bierley and Woodlands Second Teams reach semi-finals

Division One side Bradford & Bingley had Ryan Norris to thank for their tense 10-run win over league new boys Scholes.

Norris made 40 in the Bradford & Bingley score of 173 and followed up with 6-46 as the Scholes run chase came up just short.

Ben Cross (4-44) reduced Bingley to 26-3 with early wickets before Hamzah Iqbal (42) and Richard McCarthy (36) sparked a revival.

Scholes lost wickets at key times but John Hill, coming in at number eight, made a brave bid to turn the game in his side’s favour.

Hill was unbeaten on 43 when Bingley clinched the final wicket.

The battle between Division Two’s top two teams turned out to be one-sided with table-topping East Bierley winning by nine wickets at Saltaire.

James Higgins, East Bierley’s leading wicket taker this season, took 5-43 and Ross Monaghan (3-20) as Saltaire were bowled out for 128.

Bierley took just 15 overs to knock off the runs with Liam Walsh unbeaten on 64 and Stuart Kirk (43no) in an undefeated second-wicket stand of 127.

Pudsey Congs completed the semi-final line-up for this season’s Priestley Cup after defeating Bankfoot by 102 runs in their rain-delayed third-round tie.

They now face a trip to Lightcliffe on July 12 after seeing off the challenge of the last-remaining Division Two side in the competition.

Priestley Cup semi-final draw (ties to be played Sunday July 12): Lightcliffe v Pudsey Congs, New Farnley v Bradford & Bingley.

Final to be held on Sunday August 30, start noon.

Priestley Shield semi-final draw (ties to be played Sunday July 12): Morley v Pudsey St Lawrence, Bradford & Bingley v East Bierley.

Final to be held at Hanging Heaton on Sunday August 9.

Woodlands booked their place in the Heavy Woollen Crowther Cup semi-finals thanks to an eight-wicket victory over Huddersfield League side Hoylandswaine last Sunday.

Hoylandswaine posted a challenging 199 all out as Scott Marsh (47) and Jack Lockwood (45) were their leading run scorers.

Tom Clee returned excellent figures of 5-20 and followed up by top scoring with an unbeaten 77 as Woodlands eased to 203-2.

Cieran Garner (48) and Jack Carter (39no) supported Clee’s efforts as Woodlands booked a semi-final tie at home to Huddersfield League side Scholes on Sunday July 5.

The other semi-final is between Pudsey Congs and Central Yorkshire League Ossett, which has been set for Sunday July 26.

The Crowther Cup final will take place at Morley on Bank Holiday Monday, August 31.

Townville booked their place in the Solly Sports Heavy Woollen Cup semi-finals for a third consecutive season, defeating New Farnley by three wickets.

Rishi Limbechaya (56) top scored in Farnley’s 230 all out, while Jack Hughes followed up his 3-35 with an impressive knock of 80 as Townville progressed.

Townville will meet the winners of Hoylandswaine and Kirkburton in the last four.