New Farnley failed in their bid to equal Wrenthorpe’s four successive Heavy Woollen Cup final wins, as they were well beaten by seven wickets by Yorkshire Cricket Southern Premier League outfit Wakefield Thornes at Honley on Sunday.

The Bradford Premier League had only failed to win this trophy once in the last 11 years, but an excellent Thornes side deservedly triumphed here in Holmfirth.

Wakefield inserted New Farnley and though both openers fell early, Ryan McKendry (87) and Alex Lilley (42) put on 101 for the third wicket.

At 138-2 from 30 overs a score above 250 was expected, but though Fletcher Coutts (23) belted an entertaining cameo innings once Lilley had been dismissed, the runs then started to dry up.

When McKendry departed, the score was 199-6 with 7.3 overs left, and some ugly batting towards the end of the innings meant New Farnley could only post a final total of 239-7.

Ryan McKendry made a superb 87 for New Farnley in the Heavy Woollen Cup final, but none of his team-mates passed 50.Ryan McKendry made a superb 87 for New Farnley in the Heavy Woollen Cup final, but none of his team-mates passed 50. (Image: Ray Spencer.)

Paceman Matthew Taylor was a thorn in the side of New Farnley as he bowled genuinely quick and got the precious wickets of dangerous trio Lilley, Steve Bullen and Usman Arshad to finish with 3-46.

Yorkshire Academy talent Jawad Akhtar was also deserving of praise, the off-spinner bowling superbly to take 3-34 from nine overs.

And the Wakefield batsmen backed up the efforts of Taylor and Akhtar impressively.

Openers Kieran Donnachie and James Rhodes were relatively untroubled early on and took the score to 66 before the latter was clean bowled by Adam Ahmed for 32.

New Farnley had a chink of light when Ahmed took his second wicket when he trapped Donnachie leg before wicket for 45, with the score on 95-2.

But Joe Billings and James Wolfenden looked in total control thereafter, as they scored runs at will in a decisive third-wicket partnership of 114.

There were several uncharacteristic fielding lapses in the New Farnley fielding, including a couple of dropped catches, while they were undoubtedly hampered by star all-rounder Lilley carrying an injury.

It did not help matters that deadly off-spinner Gurman Randhawa did not have his usual influence with the ball, although he did take the third wicket when top scorer Billings fell for 82.

But by then the match was effectively over, and young Akhtar sealed the deal, finishing on 20 not out, while Wolfenden ended up unbeaten on 52.

The Thornes passed their target with 22 balls to spare, despite the best efforts of Ahmed, who took 2-32 from his eight overs.

Lilley deserves a mention too, only conceding 32 from his 10 overs despite playing through injury.

New Farnley remain in a five-way battle for the Bradford Premier League title, so their season is still very much alive despite this disappointing cup final defeat.