Scholes will be driven by the pain of their final defeat two years ago when they tackle Broad Oak in the All Rounder Sykes Cup final tomorrow.

Skipper James Noble believes his squad will use that experience as extra motivation this time around as they bid to take the trophy back to Chapelgate for the first time since 1996.

Noble is taking nothing for granted, even though most are making Scholes favourites following their sensational crushing of Drakes Premiership leaders Hoylandswaine in the semi-finals.

“It was nice to repay our supporters with a win like that, because Hoylandswaine are a top team who thoroughly deserve to be running away with the league because they’ve been the best team so far,” said Noble.

“But what it did prove was that when we turn up we can beat anyone, because we are capable of playing excellent cricket – batting, bowlng and fielding – in big-match, big-pressure situations.

“All the lads are looking forward to the final and it should be a good match.

“Broad Oak have been above us all season and we absolutely respect them. They beat us on the opening day of the season and when we played them at their place, they didn’t really show their true form.

“Their overseas, Ben Hyde, is a really good cricketer and they’ve got a lot of those, including Jack Hargreaves, the skipper himself, so they fully deserve their place in the final.

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“I believe we are two well-matched sides, but we are confident we have got enough in our locker to give them, or anyone else, a good run for their money.”

First-class duo Joe Carter and Devon Smith are the headline batsmen for Scholes, but Noble himself has had a prolific season (730 runs) and Yorkshire Academy keeper Benji Birkhead is a proven match-winner.

The bowling attack often reads Brook, Brook and Brook – brothers Josh, Tom and Louis – while Tom Chadwick offers real value with bat and ball, in addition to West Indian Smith’s off-spin.

Six of Noble’s side, including two-time league batting prize winner Carter, played in the 2015 final defeat to Barkisland.

“Ninety per cent of that final went exactly to plan but, unfortunately, just 10% didn’t and we missed out, so we will use that this time, knowing that any match can change in the blink of an eye,” added the skipper.

“Joe (Carter) certainly wants to put that right and I’ve been here 17 years when we’ve won leagues, Black Sheep Champions trophies and T20s and it’s the one we want to add, so if that isn’t extra motivation I don’t know what is.”

Joe Carter will be back at Scholes in the Drakes Huddersfield Cricket League

So what’s it like having Smith in the ranks?

“Dev is a great lad,” he explained.

“Everyone talks about Joe because they know what he is about, but Dev is averaging 40 with his fair share of runs, he looks a class act and he certainly rises to the big occasion.

“He is up for it, for sure, not just with the bat but with that variation with the ball.

“And his knowledge on the field, having played Tests and ODIs, is good to have and, hopefully, his ideas will help pull us through.”

For the fourth successive year, the Jim Dawson Man of the Match Award is being sponsored by North Light Physiotherapy Associates

The award will be judged and presented by Chris Liversidge of NLPA.

Match ball sponsor tomorrow is Ken Shaw. Elland members and Umpires Association volunteers are thanked by the League Executive.