DRAKES League clubs will be eagerly looking forward to the third round draw of the Heavy Woollen Cup on Monday with plenty of interest still remaining for Huddersfield.
Skelmanthorpe, who are desperately seeking to kick-start their season after losing their hold on the Sykes Cup, and going down to Golcar last week in the league, have suddenly found themselves thrust into the third round of the Heavy Woollen after just one win.
That came courtesy of slamming 300-plus against Houghton Main with Daniel Barber top-scoring with 65, backed up by Sarfraz Amed (59) and Max Joice (47).
Andrew Clarke then took four for 24 as Houghton Main were dismissed for 184. That sent Skelmanthorpe into a very difficult second round game against Wickersley, only for the South Yorkshire side to concede tomorrow’s second round tie as they have a prior Cup game, therefore putting the Lidgett Laners into the last 16.
Joining them will be Barkisland who also made 308-9, Paul Winrow cracking 94 and Darren Robinson 75 before Matt Steers and Ben Wells each took three wickets to restrict Kirkheaton to 155 all out.
Golcar are another Drakes side in the last 16, having outsted Micklehurst with a seven-wicket romp, Craig Horner again on song. The Aussie-born all-rounder slammed an unbeaten 101, while Steve Whitwam also hit an unbeaten 79 in a 142-run stand as Golcar reached 230-3, overhauling Micklehurst’s earlier 228-5 in which Qaisar Rashid made 99 not out.
Clayton West are also through after beating Shelley, meanwhile Delph & Dobcross are still waiting after drawing a blank with their attempts to contact and arrange their second round tie with Gomersal.
Neither Delph, nor for that matter Cup secretary Lesley Robinson, have managed to touch base with Gomersal, so it could be another walkover for a Drakes League team.
Scholes are at home to Yeadon tomorrow after the visitors beat Lascelles Hall in an 18-over thrash (193-5 against 175-7).
Unfortunately, Slaithwaite could not contain Baildon, who went through having hit 292-9, thanks to a century from Ian Philliskirk.
Kana Vaghela continued his good start with three wickets and a top score of 39, but despite Vaghela, Howard Jones (35), skipper Martin Welsh (34) and Adam Turner (26) all getting starts, none were able to go on to a substantial score and Slaithwaite were dismissed for 177.
