Priestley Shield joy for Gomersal

The Oxford Road men are now looking to complete a league and shield double as they also lead the second teams Division Two table, 10 points clear of Pudsey Congs.

Gomersal may boast a fearsome battling line up, with the likes of Richard Gould, Phil Carter and former New Zealand Test player Tony Blain in their ranks but it was the bowling and fielding efforts that set up the impressive victory.

Although Pudsey elected to bat, they were soon in trouble as 14-year-old Max Senior (2-16) claimed the wickets of Andy Parratt (1) and Tom Dalton (0) during an excellent six over spell.

Lawrence captain James Milligan tried to spark a revival, scoring 36 out of the first 42 runs, before he became the first victim of another Gomersal youngster, Josh Fell.

Fell also picked up the wickets of Lee Mortimer (2) and Duncan Butler (0), while stalwart Chris Rhodes then trapped Phil Wilson (12) lbw as the Saints slipped to 54-6.

Chris Sharkey (28) and Chris Hester (12) offered resistence with a 41-run stand for the seventh wicket but when Hester was bowled by Paul Huddlestone it sparked another collapse, which saw the last four wickets fall for 18 runs.

Captain Carter had a terrific game behind the stumps as he claimed three catches and picked up the stumping of Jason Smith as St Lawrence were dismissed for 111 in the 38th over.

Fell ended with impressive figures of 3-16 from six overs, Huddlestone picked up 2-11, while there was also a wicket apiece from Ryan Kitson and Dave Hilton.

Lawrence managed to claim the wicket of Blain for just 11 before Gould and Carter set about guiding Gomersal to victory with a 79-run stand for the second wicket.

Gould rarely looked in trouble as he raced to a half-century from 59 balls, inclduing 12 fours, before he was finally caught and bowled by Andy Parratt for 58.

By the time Gould departed, Gomersal were cruising on 104-2, with Carter (27no) and Fell left to complete the emphatic win.

Fell stroked the winning boundary in the 25th over to spark celebrations which went on long into the night and the youngster was then named man-of-the-match by former Yorkshire batsman Chris Taylor.