Old foes bid to put on a repeat final

Those two old rivals Elsecar and Wickersley meet in the Stafforce Recuitment Whitworth Cup Final at Warmsworth CC on Sunday (1pm).

When they clashed last year it was Elsecar who came out on top, overhauling Wickersley's 227-8 for the loss of five wickets.

That score bares an uncanny resemblance to the latest meeting as well which came just a week ago in the Premier Division. On that occasion, Wickersley made 230 and Elsecar triumphed by four wickets.

Elsecar are actually going for a hat-trick of wins whilst Wickersley have become something of a permanent fixture in this final having now made it to six of the last seven finals - they have won two of them.

Wickersley missed out in one final last Sunday, losing to Wrenthorpe in the Heavy Woollen Cup Final - the first South Yorkshire League side to reach that final.

Both sides have key strike bowlers, Lesroy Weekes for Elsecar and the Pakistan quickie Mohammad Zahid for Wickersley although with at least five bowlers required, it is the all-round capabilities that are put to the test and Elsecar's Glenn Yates and Graham Higgins and Wickersley's Haider Jahangir and Andy Harrison usually figure prominently amongst the runs or wickets, if not both, every week.

Hosts Warmsworth feared a couple of weeks ago that they may not be able to stage the occasion because of the effect the heavy rain had had on the outfield.

However, much hard work was put in and, together with much better weather, conditions were improved considerably and the game got the go-ahead last week after a League inspection.

In

the League tomorrow, Premier Division leaders Hallam face relegation-threatened Norton Oakes and will hope that second-placed Whitley Hall slip up at Treeton.

Wath were due to entertain Elsecar but their ground remains out of use and so the game has been switched to Elsecar.

Premier Division: Collegiate v Wickersley, Doncaster Town v shiregreen, Hallam v Norton Oakes, Rockingham v Barnsley, Treeton v Whitley Hall, Wath v Elsecar.