THE two most successful sides in the history of the Sykes Cup face each on Sunday in the first semi-final of this year’s Romida-backed knockout competition.
Ryan Robinson’s Elland play host to Gary Jakeman’s Holmfirth at Hullen Edge (1.30) with a whole host of history between the two clubs down the years.
Elland have lifted the historic old trophy no fewer than 14 times, the last coming in 2002 when they beat Scholes in the final at Honley, while Holmfirth have managed nine Cup triumphs, their most recent being in 1988 when they defeated Kirkheaton at Elland.
However, three of Holmfirth’s greatest glories came in successive years in the mid-70s, when they beat Elland at the old Huddersfield ground at Fartown in 1975, 76 and 77, the only side to complete a Sykes Cup hat trick, until Meltham went one better in the 1990s, when they won it four years in succession (92-95).
As well as Elland and Holmfirth having plenty of history, so too have the skippers, with Jakeman and Robinson having been teammates at Kirkburton, when they lifted the trophy in 2000 and 2001.
Jakeman was, in fact, Burton’s skipper for the victory over Scholes at Elland in 2000 (when John Sadler, then with Yorkshire, now with Derbyshire, was also in the side) and again captained the Riley Lane team the following year, when they backed it up with a second consecutive win, this time against Lascelles Hall at Honley, when Robinson carved his own name in the history books by recording the best-ever bowling performance in a final when he took nine for 36.
Robinson was again voted the star man two years later, when Kirkburton defeated Skelmanthorpe in a low-scoring game, the ex-Yorkshire and Durham man taking four for 49, but on that occasion Jakeman had to miss the final.
In more recent years, the two have been playing together at Elland, until the latter part of last season, when Jakeman stood down (and moved to Holmfirth during the winter) and Robinson was promptly installed skipper.
Now the two men who know each other’s game inside out, will be on opposite sides of the fence as they each bid to reach another major final.
For Holmfirth, much will depend on Sadler, who will need a big score one feels if Elland are to be denied another final showdown.
With the exception of Jakeman, Dave Cocking and Sadler, the Holme Valley side are very much inexperienced. Carl Fletcher is midway through his first season in the Huddersfield, while the side comprises young players like Jonny Forrester, Matt Gummerson, Andy Gledhill, Tom Craddock, Seb Allen and Brett Thornton.
Elland also have plenty of youth on their side, but they also have the experience of Lee Baxter and James Thornton (the only two members remaining from the 2002 Cup-winning side) the skipper himself, and Richard Whiteoak.
But some of their young players are outstanding prospects, such as Greg Buckley, Craig Fletcher, Sam Scott, Danny Rhodes, and wicketkeeper Greg Finn.
