VICTORY over Upper Airedale has put Huddersfield’s Joe Lumb Cup side into the semi-final stages of this year’s competition.

Having been informed that next week’s re-arranged game against Nidderdale has been cancelled with each side being awarded one point, it left Stuart Fletcher’s side needing to beat Airedale to guarantee their play-off spot – but it came with a few scares along the way.

Batting first at Elland, the visitors were quickly in trouble against the Broad Oak pairing of Alex Walker and Danny Rushworth, the former taking three for three from seven overs, while skipper Rushworth bagged two for 15 from 10.

Only one Airedale batsman made anything significant with J Wilkinson getting to 33 before becoming one of three victims for Honley’s Ian Walker (who although not actually down in the batting line-up was allowed to bowl under competition rules), and with Green Moor’s Joe White taking two for 17, the visitors tumbled to 104 all out.

If the bowling was impressive, however, the batting was anything but, as Huddersfield lost their first four wickets for just 23, and were soon six down and still way short of their target.

Fortunately, Almondbury Wesleyans’ Jonny Hoyle (26) stopped the rot before he was joined by Alex Walker, who put bat to ball in fine style hitting 32, leaving Alistair Finn (10no) to get his side over the line with just two wickets in hand.