SOME superb batting gave Guiseley the first of what they hope will be a treble of Airedale and Wharfedale League cups when they met Colton at Otley on Sunday.

Their second team recovered from losing openers Sean Yeates and Graeme Wolfenden with the score on 29 to finish with a magnificent 283-4 through to be a record for a Birtwhistle Cup Final.

There followed a superb third wicket stand of 162 between 15-year-old Chris Thompson and Chris Cooper.

Thompson was eventually bowled by Darren Precious to end an innings of 68 which showed maturity beyond his years.

Cooper took the man-of-the-match with a wonderful century which came up off 120 balls.

He finished on 105 after being dropped on 91 after eventually edging one to wicketkeeper Richard Brook off Paul Ollett.

When Thompson departed at 191-3 in strode Southport goalkeeper Steve Dickinson.

In typical fashion, he plundered a crowd pleasing 65 not out off 33 balls, hammering three sixes out of the ground and also picking up six fours. The last ten overs of the Guiseley innings saw 83 runs added, Cooper's innings

included 11 fours. The huge score killed off any hopes Colton had of glory in their first season in the league.

With Adrian Threapleton making early inroads with a 3-33 return, Colton were never in with a chance.

Young opener Stephen Precious collected a well hit 38 while Andrew Scholes produced a defiant 31 not out at the death as his side finished on 172-9.

Another of Guiseley's promising youngsters, Chris Wain, picked up 3-30 to keep his side well on top.

Guiseley now look forward to two further finals, the first XI playing Burley at Knaresborough on Sunday in the Waddilove Cup and the third team playing in the Ian Chappel Cup final on Bank Holiday Monday.

League president Ian Chappel presented the trophy to Guiseley skipper Nick Fraser and momentoes to both teams and umpires John Chadwick and Brian Townsend and scorers Carole Whitaker and Michelle Wright.

Otley CC president Michael Rhodes was man-of-the-match adjudicator and he presented the award to Guiseley's Chris Cooper.

Guiseley.- Sean Yeats c Brook b Woodmansey 6, Graeme Wolfenden lbw Ollett 22, Chris Thompson b Precious 68, Chris Cooper c Brook b Olley 105, Steve Dickinson not out 65, Ian Colquhoun not out 1; x 4; ttl 283-4. Did not bat: Nick Fraser, Chris Wain, Stewart Goodbold, Adrian Threapleton, Jeff Atkinson.

Bowling: K Woodmansey 9-4-36-1; A Scholes 2-1-18-0; P Ollet 9-1-53-2; G Sutton 9-0-42-0; M England 5-0-42-0; D Precious 9-1-65-1; S Precious 2-0-20-0.

Colton,- Richard Brook c Yates b Threapleton 14, Stephen Precious b Threapleton 38, Matthew Boyle b Threapleton 0, Peter Dixon c Thompson b Colquhoun 12, Graeme Precious c Thompson b Colquhoun 11, Darren Precious st Goodbold b Colquhoun 16, Paul Ollet b Wain 7, Andrew Scholes not out 31, Graham Sutton c Wolfenden b Wain 4, Kean Woodmansey not out 9; x 22; ttl 172-99.

Bowling: A Threapleton 9-1-33-3, S Dickinson 9-2-3-0; J Atkinson 7-1-38-0; I Colquhoun 9-2-21-3; C Wain 9-2-30-3; C Thompson 1-0-1-0; S Yates 1-0-2-0.