Moorlands are savouring being just one step away from the Sykes Cup final and focusing on maintaining their momentum in the Drakes League Premiership.
Michael Rounding’s men secured their place in the last four of the arrowselfdrive-sponsored knockout competition with a Monday-night victory at Rastrick and can put their feet up on Sunday as the rest of the ties get under way.
With three league wins on the trot, however, Moorlands are determined to make it four against Elland at the Memorial Ground on Saturday before an important double-header against Shelley and Honley (both away) the following weekend.
“We’re really pleased to be through in the Sykes Cup because it’s a guaranteed big day for the club and it would be nice for everyone if we could get a home draw,” said Rounding, whose side put up 272 at Round Hill before bowling out Rastrick for 203.
“Making the last four is another step forward for us and, while we know that whoever we get will be a hard game, hopefully we can take one step further and make the final.
“When you are into the semi-finals it’s anybody’s to be honest. Everyone is there because they are capable of beating anybody else and you have to believe in your own ability.
“We’ve won three on the trot in the league and, hopefully, we can carry that form into the next two or three weeks.”
Rounding feels his side are settling to the top-flight standard and individuals are starting to achieve their potential.
“In this first half of the season we never felt we were that far away from a decent run and we just needed one or two of our batsmen to make a really decent score to set things off,” he said.
“I have to thank Andrew Fortis for that, because he stepped up and it gave a big lift in confidence to everyone. A lot of these players have not played at this level before, so to see someone doing the business has a knock=on effect.
“Andrew got some runs, I followed on and got some and then Jaryd Maxwell and David Winn did really well in the Cup with 102 and 91, which allowed Darrell Sykes to come on and bowl really well with a five-for.
“Now we can target a couple more league wins to really cement our place in mid-table, if not better, as we get to the half way point in the season, and then we can see what happens with the rest in the Cup on Sunday.”
The ties remaining all start at 1pm on Sunday and it’s Meltham v Scholes, Shelley v Barkisland and Golcar v Kirkburton, with the semi-final draw to be held next Wednesday evening.
Rounding, 23, added: “It would be great to be at home because we’ve been away in every round so far.
“It would be terrific revenue for our club and a chance for our supporters to see us in a big semi-final on our own ground.
“It would be great for the players, too, to be in our own surroundings, but what will be will be.”
