New Farnley gain revenge over Woodlands in Heavy Woollen Cup Final

Just two weekends after Woodlands beat New Farnley by eight runs in the Priestley Cup final at Lightcliffe, the tables were turned in the Solly Sports Heavy Woollen Cup final on Bank Holiday Monday.

This time the venue was New Farnley’s home turf, winning by the same eight-run margin as they had lost by earlier in the month – again as the light was fading – to notch a fifth Heavy Woollen triumph in six years.

Woodlands won the toss and chose to field, New Farnley scoring 220-8 from 48 overs, with two overs being lost following the untimely arrival of a shower just after play had started.

Captain Aidan Langley (30) and man-of-the-match Steve Bullen laid the platform on a two-paced wicket via an impressive opening stand of 76.

Ed Brown (53 from 40 balls, including five fours and a six) then added a further 80 with Bullen, whose knock of 80 came from 133 deliveries and contained eight fours and two sixes.

Muhammad Bilal, Elliot Richardson and Henry Pearson took two wickets each for Woodlands, but they didn’t find scoring easy either, when it came their turn to bat.

Matty Weston (54) and Tim Jackson (20) put on 53 for the third wicket before Brad Schmulian (46) and Pearson (43) added 67 for the fifth.

By this time the lights on the scoreboard were twinkling ever brighter and New Farnley’s ground-fielding and a superb catch by Brown to dismiss Pearson kept the pressure on as the run rate climbed to more than eight an over.

Weston faced 91 balls and hit four fours, while Schmulian had 46 deliveries and hit three fours, Pearson having 41 deliveries but hitting only one four. There were no fumbles in the ring or the outfield from New Farnley, either, restricting Woodlands to 212-7.

Abhay Negi led the way for the hosts by taking 3-36 from 10 over, while Adam Ahmed weighed in with 3-43 from nine.

Gurman Randhawa also played a crucial role, going for just 3.3 per over from his allotted 10 without taking a wicket.