Jubilant Copley set sights on cup glory

Copley were comfortable 36-run winners over Booth in the climax to the Heineken-backed event, which was expertly hosted by SBCI in pleasant sunshine at their scenic ground.

However, it is next Sunday which really matters to Copley as they host holders Jer Lane in the big match of the Halifax League season.

After receiving the trophy and the final man of the match award, Clarke said: “Today was a perfect warm-up and hopefully we can take this form into next Sunday.”

However, he said he expected a much bigger crowd to make the cup final occasion completely different.

The action spanned nine hours yesterday and got under way with a clash between Calder Valley rivals Booth and Mytholmroyd.

Many expected the winners of this game to go on and lift the trophy.

Booth made 156 for seven with 41 from Richard Laycock and 39 from Patrick Thomas.

Steve Senior’s 47 and one very productive over with Adie Gawthrope at the crease left Mytholmroyd sitting pretty with only 18 required, five wickets in hand and more than four overs left,

However, they collapsed to 146 all out, Thomas finishing with four wickets and Richard Laycock returning to grab two in two balls. Sam Walker was run out off the first delivery of the last over.

Copley looked set for an early exit when they only totalled 122 against twice former winners Southowram.

Clarke retired on 53 and there were two inexpensive wickets apiece for Scott Moody, Tom Bellfield and Ben Wells.

Clarke followed up with three for 22 as the Rams managed only 106 in reply, Dave Townsend and Al Newton each scoring 27.

Copley batted solidly in the final and after being 68 for one at the half-way stage accelerated impressively to post 171 with opener Toby Thorpe (45), Mark Baldwin (30), Clarke (30) and Craig Taylor (27) all contributing well.

Booth were in the hunt at 71 for one off nine but their scoring stalled following the departure of Rob Laycock for 27 and the subsequent retirement of Thomas, his 53 including some sweetly-struck hits over mid-wicket.

Good bowling from Clarke, Toby Thorpe and Chris Dennison - who accounted for Andrew Truscott and Richard Laycock in quick succession - left Booth accepting defeat some time before the finish.

T/20 final scoreboard

Copley v Booth

COPLEY 171 for six

T Thorpe lbw b Thomas 45

C Dennison b Rick Laycock 10

M Baldwin c Truscott b Horsfall 30

J Clarke c Heptonstall b Rick Laycock 30

C Taylor c Rob Laycock b Ayub 27

O Thorpe c Collinge b Rick Laycock 5

M Seraj not out 4

C Chew not out 0

Extras 20

Bowling: O Collinge 4 0 22 0, Rick Laycock 4 0 33 3, J Midgley 2 0 16 0, M Ayub 3 0 27 1, N Horsfall 4 0 25 1, P Thomas 3 0 36 1.

BOOTH 135 for seven

C Shannon b Hartley 1

P Thomas retired 53

Rob Laycock c Baldwin b Clarke 27

J Heptonstall c Hartley b Thorpe 5

Rick Laycock b Dennison 3

A Truscott b Dennison 7

N Horsfall c & b Clarke 8

H Wajid c Clarke b Dennison 4

J Midgley not out 9

M Ayub not out 1

Extras 17

Bowling: C Goulden 3 0 25 0, I Hartley 4 0 25 1, O Thorpe 4 0 34 1, J Clarke 4 0 13 2, T Thorpe 3 0 14 0, C Dennison 3 0 15 3.