NEW Farnley recovered spectacularly from an early wobble in reaching the Yorkshire Premier Leagues’ play-off final next Saturday against Richmondshire at Savile Park, Castleford.

That came in the opening overs of the Bradford Premier League winners’ semi-final at Yorkshire Southern Premier League champions Cleethorpes.

Neither teenager Subhaan Ali nor Usman Arshad got their radar right with the new ball and were hauled off quickly after their four overs combined cost an eye-watering 45 runs.

All that rather spoilt Mark Lawson’s economy from the pavilion end, but even he came off after bowling six overs due to an Achilles injury.

Sadly, that meant this was his last match for the club as he will not be fit for the final and is playing for Honley in the Huddersfield League next season.

After 16 overs, Cleethorpes had raced to 102 without loss and were sat on a healthy 127-1 at drinks.

However, New Farnley showed remarked resilience to fight back and dismissed Cleethorpes for just 207 in the penultimate over of the innings.

Arshad came back with a vengeance in his second spell, which saw him taking 3-19 in five overs, and he was backed up superbly by Gurman Randhawa (3-33) and Fletcher Coutts (3-39).

Needing 208 to win, it was only a matter of New Farnley batting sensibly, and keeper Steve Bullen ensured that they did that by anchoring the reply.

He scored 70 off 123 deliveries, including seven fours, and the back of the chase was broken by the time he was dismissed with the score on 156-3.

Ryan McKendry (37no) and Coutts (34no) completed the job, the latter finishing the game off in style with two sixes in the 44th over to wrap up a seven-wicket victory.

Fletcher Coutts is a fine striker of the cricket ball, and he backed up his fine bowling with some explosive batting to see New Farnley into the final. (Image: Ray Spencer.)

Richmondshire, champions of the North Yorkshire & South Durham League, who have former New Farnley keeper Dan Hodgson in their ranks, also won by seven wickets at home to Clifton Alliance, victors in Yorkshire Premier League North.

The pair will face off in that final in Castleford, with that game getting underway at 10:30am on Saturday.

New Farnley skipper Alex Lilley, who has a small tear in his left Achilles and tendonitis in his right, might have to bowl next week with Lawson missing.

Speaking after the game, he said: “We bowled rubbish at the start to be honest, although they played some good shots, but after that we pulled it back pretty well via spin.

“Subhaan might have been nervous, as he just didn’t get it right here, but he will learn and has some talent.

“Mark’s injury didn’t help either after he grouped it well and had control at one end.

“I knew that they had a couple of lads missing in the middle order, which put pressure on their top end, but I was thinking that 300 was on the cards at one point.

“It was a very good pitch, if a little bit slow, but we managed to keep the Dukes ball, which they use in first-class cricket, swinging for the entire innings.

“I was pretty pleased to dismiss them for 200 and we had wickets in hand and scored quickly.

“Aidan (Langley) and myself probably didn’t play great shots, although we were trying to be positive, but Steve anchored the innings well and Ryan and Fletch finished it off nicely.”

Lilley added: “We played Richmondshire in a pre-season friendly this year and they are a good team who have dominated their league.

“They also have Dan, who has been a favourite at New Farnley, and they have a very good overseas player - probably the only one left in the country.

“There is also some good experience there via Gary Pratt and Mark Layfield, but we will train hard this week and hopefully come out on top.”

Lawson also spoke after the game, saying: “Sadly this is my last game for New Farnley.

“I am moving over to Huddersfield in the winter and working over there, so I’ll play for Honley in the Huddersfield League for a couple of years to try something different.

“It has been a tough three months for me trying to work it all out, but it has been an incredible five or six years with New Farnley, where we have won just about everything.

“I am getting older, getting injured more and I am not quite good enough to command a place in this first team, although I keep getting called up as someone is injured or goes home.”