TIME and effort ploughed into junior development will pay rich dividends for either SBCI or Triangle in Sunday's Parish Cup final at Copley (1.30).
Nineteen of the 24 players named in the line-ups for the showpiece game of the Halifax League season are home-grown products, which will make victory all the more sweet for the successful club.
Two years ago the pair were doing battle in one of the
league's low-level conferences before the introduction of a three division set-up last season. But the teams are now making their mark in the Premier Division as their younger players continue to make giant strides.
Triangle, a club with a trophy-winning pedigree and a battery of powerful hitters, will start favourites in many people's eyes.
However, the two league meetings between the sides this season suggest SBCI, whose only success in 110 years of the cup was in 1964, have a decent chance of coming out on top.
Triangle just got the better of their rivals in the first meeting of the season on May 10. But their experienced skipper Roger Smith admits SBCI would have taken their revenge in the return game a fortnight ago had the weather not intervened entering the closing stages.
"We have played them twice and had two close games so it will depend on who performs best on the day," said Smith.
Triangle, who floored holders Mytholmroyd in the semi-final, have a handful of teenagers in their ranks but Smith insists that doesn't mean his players are inexperienced, having grown up in cricket-playing families.
"They have been holding a bat or a ball since they were seven-year-olds and won everything there was to win in their junior age groups," he said.
"They need reining back at times because they are confident lads. I just keep telling them that if we bat our overs, bowl in the right areas and field properly then we will do all right."
Triangle re-established themselves in the top flight last year on the back of plenty of runs from Carl Fletcher and Nathan Cavalier.
This year Kurtis Whippey has emerged as a strike bowler of real quality while Smith believes Triangle's middle and lower batting order is now as good as anything in the league.
SBCI skipper Ben Summerscales said his club were looking forward to a rare day in the spotlight and were hopeful of victory.
"I don't see any reason why we shouldn't win. We have had two close games with Triangle so far this season," he said.
Summerscales said survival in the top section following promotion last year remained the priority but his players were determined to enjoy their final appearance, which comes after wins over Clayton, Northowram Hedge Top, Sowerby and Blackley.
Summerscales' brother Jamie and Alex Kaye have established themselves as one of the best opening partnerships in the league while the recent form of fellow batsmen Craig Potts and Thomas Wood gives the skipper more cause for optimism.
SBCI, like Triangle, will be at full strength with opening bowler Chris Punda over his injury problems.
SBCIBEN SUMMERSCALES: Off spin bowler and hard hitting right handed lower order batsman. Stepped in as captain following the resignation of Chris Dalby earlier in the season and is still learning the ropes. Runner up in the first division bowling averages last year.
ALEX KAYE: Classy right hand opening batsman and specialist point fielder. Has been in excellent form this season and featured in four opening stands of 150-plus, including one of 318 against Clayton in the first round of the cup. Nicknamed "Lloyd" as some say he has a resemblence of Lloyd Christmas off the cult comedy Dumb and Dumber!
JAMIE SUMMERSCALES: Quality right hand opening batter and useful left arm seam bowler. Has played with Todmorden, Barkisland and Milnrow and his experience at that level has been invaluable in a team promoted to the Premier this season. Scored 200 not out against Clayton in the first round.
CRAIG POTTS: Experienced left hand batter. After a slow start to the season he is now piling the runs on and has had good cup scores against Northowram, Sowerby St Peters and Blackley. Played his junior cricket with Sunday's foes Triangle.
THOMAS WOOD: Busy right handed batsmen and capable change bowler. Excellent in the field and is brilliant at nudging the ball about and picking up ones and twos. Has hit form with the bat since his move up the order, including a quick-fire 50 in the semi final against Blackley.
CHRIS DALBY: Experienced right hand batsman and useful seam bowler. SBCI junior who left to taste cup and league success at Copley before returning to the club a couple of years ago. Captained the side to promotion last year and started this term in charge before stepping down due to family and work commitments.
DANNY KEIGHLEY: Talented right handed batsman and left arm spinner. Ex Lighcliffe player who has also played junior cricket for Yorkshire. Is destructive with bat and ball, scoring his runs quickly and getting his wickets in a similar fashion, including a hat trick in the semi final against Blackley.
SIMON WOOD: Excellent wicket keeper and patient right handed batsman. Ex-Halifax Town apprentice who is playing semi professional for Moseley this term. Has only played part of the season due to football commitments but makes a massive difference when behind the stumps.
CHRIS PUNDA: Brisk paced opening bowler and useful lower order batsman. Has returned after a stint back at Sowerby. Can bowl quickly when the wicket suits but can drop his pace and concentrate on accuracy on slower wickets. Has had injury problems this season but now firing on all cylinders.
SIMON ROBINSON: Experienced medium pace swing bowler who has played previously for Sowerby and Sowerby Bridge. Has accounted for some of the division's top batsmen this year. Usually very economical.
Oli Benson: Right arm medium fast opening bowler. Another product of SBCI's successful junior set up. Swings the ball away from the right hander and a real handful when he gets everything right. Has 20 wickets this season in spite of bowling restrictions on junior cricketers.
Thomas Whiteley (12th man) – Talented opening batsman and wicketkeeper. Has had limited opportunities in the firsts due to Kaye and Summerscales and the quality glove work of Wood. However, when required to step in he has shown first team quality and is a fine prospect.
TRIANGLEROGER SMITH: Captain and right arm opening bowler. Although seemingly around for many years, this will be his first Parish Cup final and the first time he has been in he shake up for senior honours. Missed the semi final due to holidays, he will be keen to lead his young side to a record breaking 11th win in this competition.
CARL FLETCHER: Vice captain, left handed bat and medium pace change bowler. Big hitting batsman who has already scored two centuries in this year's cup campaign. Joined a small band of players who have scored 1,000 league runs in the top division last season. Plays for the league side and normally bats at three.
DANNY CROSSLAND: Right hand batsman who has been promoted to opener with huge success this season. Has scored three centuries so far with two coming in the cup against Shelf and Jer Lane. Product of the club's juniors.
NATHAN MADDEN: Right hand opening bat. Only 18 years old but already a permanent fixture at the top of the order. Classy looking player who scored a "big ton" in this year's first round and has regularly scored valuable runs.
NATHAN CAVALIER: Right hand early order batsman. Destructive, hard hitting player who bats at number four. Has represented the Halifax League on many occasions. Excellent cover fielder who has also played rugby for the Old Brodleians.
TONY SYKES: Right hand middle order bat known as "T Bone" to his teammates. Rejoined the club this year to play second team cricket after playing at Stainland, but a rich vein of form and some unavailability opened the door fto the firsts. Well known for his big hitting and made an invaluable half century in the semi final. Also played for Elland and Barkisland.
KURTIS WHIPPEY: Fast bowler and middle order bat. Son of ex-opener Tracey and one of the league's rising stars. His five wicket haul in the semi final ripped the heart out of the Mytholmroyd batting. His quick fire runs in the middle order have been a feature of the season. Watch out for extravagant celebrations if he takes a wicket.
ADAM KERSHAW: Wicketkeeper and left hand bat. Only 18 and in his debut season for the firsts, taking over the gloves from dad Andy. Has made great progress this year with a fine exhibition in the semi-final against Mytholmroyd. Looks likely to occupy the position for many years to come.
PETER MADDEN: Right arm medium pace bowler and left hand bat. Appearing in his sixth Parish Cup final having also captained Triangle to success in 1999. Peter has also played in the Bradford League's Priestley Cup final for Eccleshill and brings a wealth of experience to the side. Long serving club member and big hearted performer. Father of Nathan.
JACK GLEDHILL: Right hand lower order bat and medium pace change bowler. "Tigger" is another 18-year-old to have come along the junior conveyor belt at Triangle and will be playing in his first senior final. Has that knack of being a partnership breaker and takes valuable wickets for the side. Frequently scores quick runs at the back end of the innings
DAVID MOORE: Right hand bat and medium pace change bowler. Started as a junior at Triangle then had a long spell at Luddenden Foot. Came back to play at Grassy Bottom for the second team with brother John, but keeps helping out the first team. Good performer with bat and ball, including a half century in the semi final and a five wicket haul in the quarter final. CHRISTIAN SILKSTONE: Right hand middle order bat. After a late start to the season, this 16-year-old announced his presence with 80 against Mytholmroyd in the league and then 45 and a stunning catch in the cup semi final the next day. In only his second year of first team cricket, but already has a century to his name and won the league Premier division fielding prize last season. Outstanding prospect who is also on the books of Brighouse Town.
BIG MATCH OFFICIALSJOHN EASTWOOD: A retired trade union officer who played with Sowerby Bridge in the Central Yorkshire League, and has umpired for 10 years with Warley seconds. Originally with Hall Bower CC, he played rugby union for Huddersfield YMCA and is a referee with the Yorkshire RFU referees' society.
DEAN TAYLOR: Mackintosh's, Old Town and Salendine Nook player from 1985 who took up umpiring in 2000. Officiated at the 2005 Crossley Shield final between Sowerby Bridge versus Northowram.
RAY TAYLOR (reserve official): A former opening batsman in the Huddersfield League and Association who had a successful 10-year stint at Stones and later played for Mackintosh's and Mytholmroyd Meths. An umpire for eight years and officiated at last year's Crossley Shield final.