The first ever Under 11s Cricket Cup Final at Oakworth on Sunday afternoon was a great advert for the sport.

In brilliant weather, teams from Oakworth and Settle fought out the Upper Airedale Junior League final.

The game was played under the "Gordon Bowers" format. Players bat and bowl in pairs and lose runs from the team total (starts at 200) if they are out.

Oakworth's first pair of Joe Bottomley and Emma Wine didn't pick up runs but Emma was bowled once. Second pairing, the energetic Ben Wine and eight-year-old Joe Hoyle, were each out once but Ben's boundary brought applause. Settle bowlers Gemmell, Glynn, Wildman and Horsman each took a wicket to restrict Oakworth.

Oaks third pairing brought an instant run-rate boost with boundaries for both skipper Ben Lamb (12) and Jacob Driver (4) and as neither was out 16 runs were added. Daniel Lee (11) and Tom Birdsall (2) tried their best to emulate with another 13 but Danny was bowled by Davidson. Oaks last pairing of Gordon Ingham (1) and Jack Davison (0) suffered a run out but nevertheless only lost eight to total 209.

Settle's bowlers had restricted scoring well with Ryan Glynn the pick with one for one from three overs.

Settle started well with Gemmell (7) and Taylor (6) picking up just one dismissal off their last ball from Oaks Joe Bottomley. Wildman and Martin also suffered one dismissal, Wildman's 11 including two boundaries.

Oakworth kept in contention as the Settle score overtook their own. Youngest player Jack Davison took two wickets to help drag the Settle score back to reachable levels, only eight in front.

Ralph and C Gemmell racked up 21 before wickets began to tumble. N Horsman and W Davidson made seven runs between them but their two dismissals left the pairing nine runs behind.

The last pairing of R Davidson and Glynn relied on the latter's two boundaries to advance the score but Jacob Driver pegged them back with Glynn's scalp.

The final over was bowled by Joe Bottomley, who beat the bat numerous times but he couldn't get the wickets needed. Settle ran out the winners with a score of 218.

The cup was donated by Phoenix Trophies. Man-of-the match award went to Oakworth's Daniel Lee with 11 runs and 0-3 from his three overs.

Picture: Runners-up Oakworth Under-11s, with, back, from left, team managers (U11 and U13) Paul Bottomley, Jeff Hobson, Richard

Wine and Nick Hoyle

Middle row: Joe Bottomley (9), Emma Wine (11), Daniel Lee (11), Jacob Driver

(11), Tom Birdsall (10). Front row: Jack Davison (7), Gordon Ingham (10), Ben Lamb (10) Capt, Ben

Wine (10) and Joe Hoyle (8)