Lightcliffe Win the Under 11 Collinson Cup Final

First trophy of the summer for the Villagers

Lightcliffe completed an unbeaten run to the under 11 cup final and overcame Copley to lift the seasons first trophy for the Villagers. Losing the toss and being put into bat, the Lightcliffe boys were set a new challenge. It was, for some of the lads, their the 4th final in 4 seasons but the first time that they were given the job of posting a score rather than chasing. Ben Horne and Finn Brookes began well, adding 29 together in 5 overs but the latter was out trying to hit a loose ball through midwicket, placing it straight into the fielders hands. Ben soon followed after a wonderfully fluent and well crafted 21, leaving two of the younger members of the side, Will Eyre and George Leach (13), to continue to build the innings. George hit 3 lovely crisp boundaries but soon followed the openers back to the pavilion and the innings began to have a stop/start feeling. Charlie Davy Walker (10) batted well, but again was another player caught hitting the ball crisply but in the air and straight to a fielder. Amazingly enough it was a lad called Archie Sykes who had taken all 4 catches and even more amazingly he took one at midwicket, one at cover, one at square leg and his 4th at mid off. The side were literally finding the man every time they went for a big shot. Will Eyre, eventually retiring on 26, was the backbone of the innings and he shepherded the lower middle order towards what was eventually a more than defendable total.

George Leach began with a maiden over before Archie Sykes threw caution to the wind - and bat at ball - taking 12 from the next over. He hit a huge 6 out of the ground followed by another one bounce pulled 4 that sent people sat in the pavilion diving for cover. The power and intent of the shots could have sent shockwaves through the lads out on the field but they stuck to their task, and in the next over he tried to sneak a run to Ben Horne at cover - but Ben's accurate return throw to the keeper saw the batsman well out of his crease. It turned out to be a vital moment in the match and Copley never genuinely recovered. They lost two further wickets quickly (Gurdaas Singh and George Leach the key wicket takers) before a careful rebuild meant they were 45-4 after 10 overs. The game was still there to take but depth in batting turned out to be the difference between the two sides. From the halfway point, and with the game poised for a grandstand finish, Lightcliffe closed in and mopped up the innings ruthlessly. Copley lost their last 5 wickets with the score on 54, and the Villagers were the eventual comfortable winners. Other wickets went to Ellis West (2), Man of the Match Will Eyre (3), Charlie Davy-Walker (2), with Finn Brookes taking a catch and 2 stumping. It was a professional all round performance from the lads, polished in the field and united in their efforts to win the game.

The Halifax League and Bradshaw provided a wonderful day out for the cricketers in a stunning setting overlooking rural Calderdale. 2020-esque loudspeakers announced batsmen and bowlers throughout the game, and music blared at the fall of wickets whilst players danced in celebration. All of the boys loved the opportunity to play in a game that was a miniature version of something that they may have seen played in the IPL or at Headingley - and the sun shone on another wonderful day for Lightcliffe junior cricket.