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Gomersal look to cup for their only ray of sunshine
Farsley v Woodlands Bradford League sat 23rd july 2011 Andy Duckworth who top scored with 77 for Farsley clips four runs
TO say Gomersal’s league and Heavy Woollen Cup form has been contrasting is putting it mildly.
Another nail was hammered into the rock-bottom outfit’s relegation coffin on Saturday by way of a 74-run loss at Bradford & Bingley – and while they are not quite doomed yet, nothing less than a Lazarus-style recovery is required to save their Division One skins.
Promoted along with Farsley in 2008, Gomersal find themselves 39 points adrift of safety with just seven games to go and how they could do with displaying some of the inspiration they have shown in their run to the final of the HW competition, which takes place against Shepley at Spen Victoria this Sunday.
It’s been chalk-and-cheese stuff from the Oxford Road outfit, who have lost their last eight league matches but who have saved their best for the cup, disposing of near-neighbours Hanging Heaton with a last-ball semi-final victory along with Delph & Dobcross, Spen Victoria and Liversedge en route to their cup date with destiny.
secretary Matt Wilby is at a loss to explain the differences in form, while accepting that relegation is staring them in the face.
He said: “Our league form is terrible and we can’t buy a win.
“We picked up two wins in our first three games, but have only won one more since. we’ve not won a league game since the end of May when we beat (Pudsey) St Lawrence after chasing down 342 to win.
“the only thing we can do is hope that we can get some silverware out of the season and it would provide a bit of sunshine in what has been a poor year.
“The cup has probably been a bonus and I don’t think it’s been a distraction. It’s actually helped us through a tough period.
“We are just not performing as a team in the league. You can tell that just by looking at the figures – it’s just not come together.
“We’ve only got 140 points to play for and while we won’t write things off, we’ve got to be realistic and start to look at the new season when it’s highly likely that we’ll be in Division Two.”
Saturday’s blow for Gomersal was a particularly tough one to take. They let Bradford & Bingley off the hook in a major way after reducing the Waggon Laners to a calamitous 29-7.
The hosts dug themselves out of a considerable hole to reach 201 all out, despite the best efforts of James Russell (5-69) and Shahzaib Khan (4-34).
In reply, it was a familiar tale as Gomersal fell short at 127 all out, with Dan Lloyd (51) handed little support.
The only crumb of comfort for Gomersal was that the bottom four all lost, second-from-bottom Baildon losing at East Bierley and the team above them, Manningham Mills (170-9) seen off by form side Pudsey Congs (176-5), looking ominously positioned in third spot.
The champions won with 15 balls to spare, with Babar Butt (41no) seeing them home after Glenn Roberts (4-45) had earlier led the way with the ball.
Fourth-from-bottom Hanging Heaton (268-8), who face a massive home game with Baildon this weekend, suffered more woe, despite showing spirit in a 13-run loss in a high-scoring clash with Pudsey St Lawrence (281-8).
Leading lights for Saints were David Stiff (57) and Dave Hester (52), with Nick Bresnan taking 4-46 for Heaton.
Mark Lawson (65), James Stansfield (63) and Rob McFarlane (55) were amongst the runs for the visitors, with Craig Wiseman picking up 5-51 for Saints.
At the top, the top four all triumphed, with leaders Woodlands (253-4) swatting aside Farsley (153) by 100 runs, with the Red Laners dropping to sixth.
Simon Mason (105no) took centre stage with the bat, well supported by Scott Richardson (61), with Chris Brice pocketing 4-27.
Opener Andrew Duckworth hit a gutsy 77 for Farsley.
Mark Cummins (54) and Tim Jackson (53) were the leading lights for second-placed Cleckheaton (241-6), whose purple patch continued at the expense of Undercliffe (240-6), despite an impressive 97 from Callum Geldart.
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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