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Woodlands were formed in 1894, initially joining the Low Moor & District League in 1895, they then played in various other local leagues, including the Bradford League for two years, until 1920 when they settled for the Bradford Central Cricket League.
Woodlands' first ground was virtually a field at Hag Hall Farm, but when they were given notice to quit at the end of the 1950 season their very future was in jeopardy. After protracted negotiations a plot of land was purchased on Salthorn Common to turn into a cricket field. The job was massive with levelling being the priority, but the members rallied together to convert the land into an acceptable cricket field. It was a rural setting with very limited facilities until the erection of a pavilion in 1961.
When Woodlands won their first major trophy in the Bradford Central League in 1936 it had taken them 15 years since joining the league. It was the First Division title, and this was followed in the 1940's by further titles in 1945 and 1947 sandwiched between a famous Waddilove cup victory in 1946. After winning the cup again in 1963, they went a couple of decades before their golden years of 1980-1987 when they won the coveted double in 1982, and two further titles and cups.
The aforementioned decade produced a cricketer who could well be regarded as the best on their books up to the nineties. Peter Godfrey was a classic left-handed batsman who could have graced any of the senior leagues of Yorkshire. During the eighties he won the league's batting averages on two occasions, and finished in second place twice more. In 1984 he scored in all competitions 1,761 runs with an average of 50.31, including 2 centuries and eleven fifties.
The 1990's
When Sir Lawrence Byford, the Yorkshire County Cricket Club president opened the impressive Sports Hall in 1991 the club was showing ambition way above their station. This development was followed by new dressing rooms and club facilities the envy of most in the area.
In 1992, feeling the need to improve their standard of cricket Woodlands applied to join the Bradford League along with Northowram but were rejected. However, they were accepted by the Central Yorkshire League in their centenary year of 1994.
A satisfactory first season when they turned out a virtual Bradford Central side gave the club an appetite for further progress. The ten local lads who had mostly graduated from the junior ranks were supplemented by Woodlands' first overseas player Australian Len Blok. He would often bowl twenty five overs as well as bat high in the order. The mid-table position in the second division indicated healthy progress.
In 1995 former county bowler Stuart Fletcher was signed to lead the team. Fletcher played for Yorkshire from 1983 to 1991, before moving to Lancashire until 1994. A right arm medium pacer, Fletcher played in 114 first-class matches, 107 for Yorkshire and seven for Lancashire, taking 240 wickets at 34.89, with a best of 8 for 58 against Essex. In 132 one day games, he took 166 wickets at 29.06, with a best of 4-111 against Kent. He took 2 for 37 to help Yorkshire win the Benson and Hedges Cup final in 1987, against Nottinghamshire.
In Fletcher's second season promotion was achieved to the top division when they finished runners up behind Kings Cross. This represented significant progress for a club still using a hard core of Bradford Central League players. The fact that they consolidated comfortably in the top division in 1997 illustrated the influence Fletcher had on the team.
A notable cricketer in Woodlands' ranks in 1997 was opening bowler Naeem Khan who wasn't particularly quick but bowled straight. He figured fairly high in the League Bowling Averages taking 62 wickets at 14.23. Khan had three six wicket bowling performances with the 6-20 against Gildersome being the best. In June 1997 home product Jason Wharf scored 113 v New Farnley.
For the start of the 1998 season Woodlands ambitions had grown once more and sights were set on further advancement, with the re-joining of the Bradford League the eventual goal. To this end Woodlands made their most significant signing when they recruited Tim Orrell from Saltaire to lead the campaign to achieve this aim. This would prove to be the best cricketing decision made in the history of Woodlands CC. He immediately brought discipline to the team and set the standards for further progress.
Orrell had many memorable innings in the Central Yorkshire League, and none better than his remarkable innings of 150 against Methley. He faced their South African fast bowler Mulligan George who was taking the League by storm, and he blasted him to every corner of Albert Terrace. It was always a case of the `faster they come' the faster they will go with Orrell, who's only Achilles heel with the bat was good class spin bowling.
By 1999 Woodlands had engaged Indian opening batsman Nanda Kishore. In this first innings on English soil he had to bat on the greenest of wickets at New Farnley and hit a superb 57. The team was also strengthened by Richard Spittlehouse, Simon Wood and Nicky Rushworth from Saltaire.
In 1992, feeling the need to improve their standard of cricket Woodlands applied to join the Bradford League along with Northowram but were rejected. However, they were accepted by the Central Yorkshire League in their centenary year of 1994.
A satisfactory first season when they turned out a virtual Bradford Central side gave the club an appetite for further progress. The ten local lads who had mostly graduated from the junior ranks were supplemented by Woodlands' first overseas player Australian Len Blok. He would often bowl twenty five overs as well as bat high in the order. The mid-table position in the second division indicated healthy progress.
In 1995 former county bowler Stuart Fletcher was signed to lead the team. Fletcher played for Yorkshire from 1983 to 1991, before moving to Lancashire until 1994. A right arm medium pacer, Fletcher played in 114 first-class matches, 107 for Yorkshire and seven for Lancashire, taking 240 wickets at 34.89, with a best of 8 for 58 against Essex. In 132 one day games, he took 166 wickets at 29.06, with a best of 4-111 against Kent. He took 2 for 37 to help Yorkshire win the Benson and Hedges Cup final in 1987, against Nottinghamshire.
In Fletcher's second season promotion was achieved to the top division when they finished runners up behind Kings Cross. This represented significant progress for a club still using a hard core of Bradford Central League players. The fact that they consolidated comfortably in the top division in 1997 illustrated the influence Fletcher had on the team.
A notable cricketer in Woodlands' ranks in 1997 was opening bowler Naeem Khan who wasn't particularly quick but bowled straight. He figured fairly high in the League Bowling Averages taking 62 wickets at 14.23. Khan had three six wicket bowling performances with the 6-20 against Gildersome being the best. In June 1997 home product Jason Wharf scored 113 v New Farnley.
For the start of the 1998 season Woodlands ambitions had grown once more and sights were set on further advancement, with the re-joining of the Bradford League the eventual goal. To this end Woodlands made their most significant signing when they recruited Tim Orrell from Saltaire to lead the campaign to achieve this aim. This would prove to be the best cricketing decision made in the history of Woodlands CC. He immediately brought discipline to the team and set the standards for further progress.
Orrell had many memorable innings in the Central Yorkshire League, and none better than his remarkable innings of 150 against Methley. He faced their South African fast bowler Mulligan George who was taking the League by storm, and he blasted him to every corner of Albert Terrace. It was always a case of the `faster they come' the faster they will go with Orrell, who's only Achilles heel with the bat was good class spin bowling.
By 1999 Woodlands had engaged Indian opening batsman Nanda Kishore. In this first innings on English soil he had to bat on the greenest of wickets at New Farnley and hit a superb 57. The team was also strengthened by Richard Spittlehouse, Simon Wood and Nicky Rushworth from Saltaire.
That season was the first indication that Woodlands were capable of going places when the club reached the final of the Heavy Woollen Cup, beating Hanging Heaton, Pudsey St Lawrence and Windhill on the way, only to be defeated in the final by Baildon. A further Saltaire capture was Brent Shackleton who provided some much needed aggression in the team with both bat and ball.
Woodlands last season in the Central Yorkshire League was complicated by the early return of Kishore to India for unexplained reasons. They struggled through the season with only Orrell and Rushworth's runs keeping them clear from the relegation positions.
The seven-year tenure in the Central Yorkshire League was an invaluable grounding for their future years in the Bradford League. The Heavy Woollen Cup run of 1999 had reassured the club that they could compete at the very top.
It's prudent to mention that it was the old Bradford Central League players who were responsible for the meteoric rise in stature for Woodlands. Showing no sentiment for their old league they all contributed in committee to the club's cause namely, Gordon Rishman, David Wharf, Stuart Tordoff, Brian Pearson, Phil Godfrey and Wayne Richardson.
Woodlands last season in the Central Yorkshire League was complicated by the early return of Kishore to India for unexplained reasons. They struggled through the season with only Orrell and Rushworth's runs keeping them clear from the relegation positions.
The seven-year tenure in the Central Yorkshire League was an invaluable grounding for their future years in the Bradford League. The Heavy Woollen Cup run of 1999 had reassured the club that they could compete at the very top.
It's prudent to mention that it was the old Bradford Central League players who were responsible for the meteoric rise in stature for Woodlands. Showing no sentiment for their old league they all contributed in committee to the club's cause namely, Gordon Rishman, David Wharf, Stuart Tordoff, Brian Pearson, Phil Godfrey and Wayne Richardson.
Back in the Bradford League
By 2001 the club had finally achieved Bradford League status once more and celebrated by taking the Bowes Section of the Second Division, going through the season undefeated. They possessed a team not only built for promotion, but also good enough to consolidate in the First Division in the following year.
Led by skipper Orrell, they had a fine array of talent in Russell Murray, Nicky Rushworth, Murphy Walwyn, Richard Spittlehouse and Sarfraz Ahmed. Under the shrewd stewardship of secretary Pearson gradual progress for 2002 was their watchword. They set out to consolidate in the First Division in 2002 and they achieved that comfortably in eighth position.
Legendary overseas player Ahmed arrived in time for their debut season in 2001 taking an incredible 80 wickets at 10.69 to win the Division Two bowling award, coupled with a batting average of 60.67 which allowed him to finish second in the division's batting averages, and also take the Jack Hill All-Rounders Trophy. It was a sensational start for Ahmed who would arguably become the best of the overseas players of his generation.
Orrell led from the front with 458 runs as he accelerated the scoring from steady starts by left-handed sheet anchor Murray who scored 696 runs. Also starring in 2001 was Walwyn with a batting average of 44.73 who also scored the fastest fifty of the season in 17 balls. This repeated his feat at East Bierley the season before. Nick Rushworth scored 604 runs and also won the league's wicketkeeping prize. Rushworth would go on and repeat this feat in 2003 and 2005.
Legendary overseas player Ahmed arrived in time for their debut season in 2001 taking an incredible 80 wickets at 10.69 to win the Division Two bowling award, coupled with a batting average of 60.67 which allowed him to finish second in the division's batting averages, and also take the Jack Hill All-Rounders Trophy. It was a sensational start for Ahmed who would arguably become the best of the overseas players of his generation.
Orrell led from the front with 458 runs as he accelerated the scoring from steady starts by left-handed sheet anchor Murray who scored 696 runs. Also starring in 2001 was Walwyn with a batting average of 44.73 who also scored the fastest fifty of the season in 17 balls. This repeated his feat at East Bierley the season before. Nick Rushworth scored 604 runs and also won the league's wicketkeeping prize. Rushworth would go on and repeat this feat in 2003 and 2005.
Amongst the undoubted stars in 2001was locally reared cricketer Richard Godfrey who became only the 11th player in the history of the Bradford League to take four wickets in four balls.
The 2003 season saw the club achieve another milestone when they reached the Sovereign Health Care Priestley Cup final for the first time. They were much fancied in the final playing Second Division Bradford & Bingley at Wagon Lane, and should have scored well in excess of the their final 210-9.
Orrell had put them in a commanding position with a superb century which would have normally won the Man of the Match Award. It wasn't to be as Richard Nichols guided his team home with a century of his own as they won by six wickets.
Orrell had put them in a commanding position with a superb century which would have normally won the Man of the Match Award. It wasn't to be as Richard Nichols guided his team home with a century of his own as they won by six wickets.
Woodlands had tasted the big time and it was obvious they would be back for more. In the league they enjoyed gentle progression to seventh place with Orrell being the star performer with 713 runs at 44.56 with a top score of 122not out. Murray was his usual consistent self with 682 runs at 35.89, while the bowling honours went to Ahmed (53), Chris Brice (43) and Richard Spittlehouse (32). Richard Pyrah had signed from Cleckheaton with Brice and scored 635 runs.
Clearly the big honours were just around the corner but in 2004 they realised just how far they had to go to overtake the legendary Pudsey Congs. They finished a highly-creditable fourth in the league with Orrell (725) and Murray (736) leading the way with the bat, and Ahmed storming to 70 wickets.
Ahmed also proved his prowess with the bat taking the fastest fifty trophy with an 18-ball innings. But,despite a magnificent run to the final of the Priestley Cup they met their match in no uncertain manner when they were defeated by the Congs by eight wickets.
Compensation of sorts was gratefully received when they won the Heavy Woollen Cup for the first time with a comfortable final victory over Spen Victoria by 36 runs at Liversedge. Naeem Khan outshone Ahmed for once taking a match winning 5-19.
Clearly the big honours were just around the corner but in 2004 they realised just how far they had to go to overtake the legendary Pudsey Congs. They finished a highly-creditable fourth in the league with Orrell (725) and Murray (736) leading the way with the bat, and Ahmed storming to 70 wickets.
Ahmed also proved his prowess with the bat taking the fastest fifty trophy with an 18-ball innings. But,despite a magnificent run to the final of the Priestley Cup they met their match in no uncertain manner when they were defeated by the Congs by eight wickets.
Compensation of sorts was gratefully received when they won the Heavy Woollen Cup for the first time with a comfortable final victory over Spen Victoria by 36 runs at Liversedge. Naeem Khan outshone Ahmed for once taking a match winning 5-19.
4 Titles in a row
Knowing just what they needed to reinforce their challenge for 2005 Woodlands made two key signings all-rounder Paul Winrow and former Yorkshire seamer Pieter Swanepoel.
This gave the team extra firepower in the seam bowling, and strengthened the batting considerably. South African Swanepoel played two First-Class matches for Yorkshire in 2003 against Durham and India A. He also appeared in two Twenty/20, and three Pro40 matches for Yorkshire in the same year. He scored 20 first-class runs, with a best of 17, for an average of 6.66, and took three wickets with his right-arm medium pace.
This gave the team extra firepower in the seam bowling, and strengthened the batting considerably. South African Swanepoel played two First-Class matches for Yorkshire in 2003 against Durham and India A. He also appeared in two Twenty/20, and three Pro40 matches for Yorkshire in the same year. He scored 20 first-class runs, with a best of 17, for an average of 6.66, and took three wickets with his right-arm medium pace.
He was more successful in one-day cricket, playing from 2001 to 2004 and taking 14 wickets at 20.09, with a best return of 3-9, and scoring 73 runs at 24.33, with a top score of 28 not out.
They were neck and neck with Pudsey Congs who were going for their sixth-successive title, and still dominating the Black Sheep Yorkshire Champions Trophy. Ironically, they met in the Priestley Cup final again and the result was the same, but not quite as convincing for the Congs.
This could have been a huge psychological blow in favour of the Congs but Woodlands had the last laugh taking the title with a four- point margin after a dramatic final day which saw Congs lose at Baildon while Woodlands scraped a one-wicket win at Bankfoot.
They were neck and neck with Pudsey Congs who were going for their sixth-successive title, and still dominating the Black Sheep Yorkshire Champions Trophy. Ironically, they met in the Priestley Cup final again and the result was the same, but not quite as convincing for the Congs.
This could have been a huge psychological blow in favour of the Congs but Woodlands had the last laugh taking the title with a four- point margin after a dramatic final day which saw Congs lose at Baildon while Woodlands scraped a one-wicket win at Bankfoot.
Woodlands had a very solid look about their batting in 2005 with Winrow (735), Orrell (687), Murray (692), Rushworth (357) and Ahmed with his vital little cameos all scoring richly for the cause. The bowling was now as potent as any team's in the league with Ahmed (71), Brice (48) and Swanepoel (45) all restricting the opposition's batting.
As Pudsey Congs had relinquished their domination of the title after a sensational five-year period, it was up to Woodlands to hammer home their newly-found superiority. Firstly, they had to equal the Congs classic treble of Champions/Priestley Cup Winners/Black Sheep Yorkshire Champions successes of 2002 and 2004 to obtain the same sort of legendary status.
There was rising optimism at Woodlands in 2006 with Pyrah available more often and the rest of the title-winning side intact. In addition Scott Richardson was signed from Baildon to bolster the batting. Richardson played 13 first-class matches for Yorkshire between 2000 and 2003. After his release he turned out for Cumberland in the Minor Counties Cricket Championship from 2004 to 2006.
A right-handed batsman, Richardson scored 377 first class runs at 17.95, with a top score of 69 against Kent. He also scored 68 against Somerset and 50 against Glamorgan. In league cricket he played belligerently, always giving the bowler a chance – but usually not before a rich diet of profitable cover drives has boosted the score.
It was clear early on that it would be a three-horse race with the Pudsey teams snapping at their heels. Woodlands appeared to be determined to win the Priestley Cup after three final losses in three years as they made clinical progress to the final where they would play Second Division champions Bowling Old Lane in the first final to be played in coloured clothing. The first passage was straight forward enough restricting Old Lane to just 144, but they certainly wobbled in reply sliding home by two wickets with Swanepoel taking the plaudits as man of the match.
Despite the unconvincing final performance a great weight had been lifted after their cup bogey and their relentless surge to the title proved to be successful. They won with nine points to spare over Congs with Pyrah carrying off the Learie Constantine All Rounders Trophy after a stunning season. He won the league's bowling averages with 48 wickets at 11.71, and top scored for his team with 573 runs.
Pyrah made his one day debut for Yorkshire in 2001, but had to wait until 2004 for his First-Class bow. Although he has a first class score of 134not out and a best bowling analysis of 5-58, he has been regarded more of a one-day specialist by Yorkshire. As a bowler he has the invaluable ability of taking the pace off the ball in limited over run-chases.
The bowling was unbeatable in 2006 with Brice second in the league's bowling averages with 37 wickets, backed by Ahmed (42 wkts) and Swanepoel (49). In the batting Richardson (616), Orrell (428) and Rushworth (429) had assisted Pyrah sufficiently.
In the Black Sheep Yorkshire Champions Trophy the passage to the final was relatively comfortable with wins against Fenners, Bilton and Honley. In the final at Hanging Heaton it would be against a strong Townville side. For a time Townville looked like getting a decent score with former county batsman Tim Walton very much on form, but when the unsung seamer Spittlehouse clean bowled him for 54 it was obvious Woodlands would prevail.
Ahmed had the sensational figures of ten overs, four wickets for three runs. Woodlands chased down Townville's 178 in a canter with Murray unbeaten on 87 in his last innings for the club, while anchoring Richardson's quick-fire 50. The nine-wicket victory emphasis ed their superiority in a season where they performed the classic treble and caught up with the fabled Pudsey Congs.
For the historians who consider this team the best in Woodlands history the regular side was: Richardson, Murray, Rushworth, Orrell, Pyrah, Walwyn, Brice, Goldthorpe, Swanepoel, Ahmed, Spittlehouse.
Woodlands were red-hot favourites for the 2007 title and it showed with 21 victories and no defeats in a 26-match fixture list. Pudsey Congs were still their closest rivals but the gap had widened to 72 points. This was the season that Brice became their most influential player.
He topped the league's batting averages with a massive 83.00 courtesy of ten not outs, and also took 37 wickets at 15.59. This inevitably led him to winning the Learie Constantine All Rounders Trophy - a feat he would replicate in 2010. Brice was never short on giving advice on the field and this was part of the package of a priceless player.
Sam Frankland, who had been signed from Elland to replace Murray, was top run-getter with 552 runs. He took the steady role as opening partner to Richardson, but has the ability to play exquisite leg-side shots. Again the bowling was potent with Ahmed (55) and Swanepoel (54) taking the first two places in the league's bowling averages.
The 2007 title triumph became a notable double when Woodlands won a late-in-the-season Black Sheep Yorkshire Champions Final at Hanging Heaton against their great adversaries Pudsey Congs. After beating Streethouse and Kirkstall Educational they met Barnsley in the semi-final at Shaw Lane. Woodlands scored a modest 175 batting first, but soon had Barnsley struggling with Ahmed making early inroads. The Yorkshire League side were beaten by 27 runs with Brice top scoring with 31, and also taking 4-32 to prove yet again that he was the man for the big occasion.
In the final Woodlands showed great courage in battling without two key bowlers in Ahmed and Brice against a full-strength Congs side. To complicate things further, Rushworth dislocated a finger and had to bereplaced by Adam Goldthorpe behind the stumps.
Congs had made a challenging 245-7 taking advantage of some makeshift bowling. At the half-way stage of the Woodlands innings they were definitely second favourites but a stand of 140 between Orrell (71no) and Goldthorpe (73) won the day in the gathering gloom. Sheer will to win won the day for a team with a developing habit of not knowing when they were beaten. For skipper Orrell it was five major trophies in two years after only eight seasons in the league with the club.
Woodlands had reached the stage where they were in range of replicating the Pudsey Congs feat of five consecutive titles. However, it was not to be as 2008 proved to be the last of their unbroken run. Congs had hit back with a vengeance and were only two points behind at the finish.
As Pudsey Congs had relinquished their domination of the title after a sensational five-year period, it was up to Woodlands to hammer home their newly-found superiority. Firstly, they had to equal the Congs classic treble of Champions/Priestley Cup Winners/Black Sheep Yorkshire Champions successes of 2002 and 2004 to obtain the same sort of legendary status.
There was rising optimism at Woodlands in 2006 with Pyrah available more often and the rest of the title-winning side intact. In addition Scott Richardson was signed from Baildon to bolster the batting. Richardson played 13 first-class matches for Yorkshire between 2000 and 2003. After his release he turned out for Cumberland in the Minor Counties Cricket Championship from 2004 to 2006.
A right-handed batsman, Richardson scored 377 first class runs at 17.95, with a top score of 69 against Kent. He also scored 68 against Somerset and 50 against Glamorgan. In league cricket he played belligerently, always giving the bowler a chance – but usually not before a rich diet of profitable cover drives has boosted the score.
It was clear early on that it would be a three-horse race with the Pudsey teams snapping at their heels. Woodlands appeared to be determined to win the Priestley Cup after three final losses in three years as they made clinical progress to the final where they would play Second Division champions Bowling Old Lane in the first final to be played in coloured clothing. The first passage was straight forward enough restricting Old Lane to just 144, but they certainly wobbled in reply sliding home by two wickets with Swanepoel taking the plaudits as man of the match.
Despite the unconvincing final performance a great weight had been lifted after their cup bogey and their relentless surge to the title proved to be successful. They won with nine points to spare over Congs with Pyrah carrying off the Learie Constantine All Rounders Trophy after a stunning season. He won the league's bowling averages with 48 wickets at 11.71, and top scored for his team with 573 runs.
Pyrah made his one day debut for Yorkshire in 2001, but had to wait until 2004 for his First-Class bow. Although he has a first class score of 134not out and a best bowling analysis of 5-58, he has been regarded more of a one-day specialist by Yorkshire. As a bowler he has the invaluable ability of taking the pace off the ball in limited over run-chases.
The bowling was unbeatable in 2006 with Brice second in the league's bowling averages with 37 wickets, backed by Ahmed (42 wkts) and Swanepoel (49). In the batting Richardson (616), Orrell (428) and Rushworth (429) had assisted Pyrah sufficiently.
In the Black Sheep Yorkshire Champions Trophy the passage to the final was relatively comfortable with wins against Fenners, Bilton and Honley. In the final at Hanging Heaton it would be against a strong Townville side. For a time Townville looked like getting a decent score with former county batsman Tim Walton very much on form, but when the unsung seamer Spittlehouse clean bowled him for 54 it was obvious Woodlands would prevail.
Ahmed had the sensational figures of ten overs, four wickets for three runs. Woodlands chased down Townville's 178 in a canter with Murray unbeaten on 87 in his last innings for the club, while anchoring Richardson's quick-fire 50. The nine-wicket victory emphasis ed their superiority in a season where they performed the classic treble and caught up with the fabled Pudsey Congs.
For the historians who consider this team the best in Woodlands history the regular side was: Richardson, Murray, Rushworth, Orrell, Pyrah, Walwyn, Brice, Goldthorpe, Swanepoel, Ahmed, Spittlehouse.
Woodlands were red-hot favourites for the 2007 title and it showed with 21 victories and no defeats in a 26-match fixture list. Pudsey Congs were still their closest rivals but the gap had widened to 72 points. This was the season that Brice became their most influential player.
He topped the league's batting averages with a massive 83.00 courtesy of ten not outs, and also took 37 wickets at 15.59. This inevitably led him to winning the Learie Constantine All Rounders Trophy - a feat he would replicate in 2010. Brice was never short on giving advice on the field and this was part of the package of a priceless player.
Sam Frankland, who had been signed from Elland to replace Murray, was top run-getter with 552 runs. He took the steady role as opening partner to Richardson, but has the ability to play exquisite leg-side shots. Again the bowling was potent with Ahmed (55) and Swanepoel (54) taking the first two places in the league's bowling averages.
The 2007 title triumph became a notable double when Woodlands won a late-in-the-season Black Sheep Yorkshire Champions Final at Hanging Heaton against their great adversaries Pudsey Congs. After beating Streethouse and Kirkstall Educational they met Barnsley in the semi-final at Shaw Lane. Woodlands scored a modest 175 batting first, but soon had Barnsley struggling with Ahmed making early inroads. The Yorkshire League side were beaten by 27 runs with Brice top scoring with 31, and also taking 4-32 to prove yet again that he was the man for the big occasion.
In the final Woodlands showed great courage in battling without two key bowlers in Ahmed and Brice against a full-strength Congs side. To complicate things further, Rushworth dislocated a finger and had to bereplaced by Adam Goldthorpe behind the stumps.
Congs had made a challenging 245-7 taking advantage of some makeshift bowling. At the half-way stage of the Woodlands innings they were definitely second favourites but a stand of 140 between Orrell (71no) and Goldthorpe (73) won the day in the gathering gloom. Sheer will to win won the day for a team with a developing habit of not knowing when they were beaten. For skipper Orrell it was five major trophies in two years after only eight seasons in the league with the club.
Woodlands had reached the stage where they were in range of replicating the Pudsey Congs feat of five consecutive titles. However, it was not to be as 2008 proved to be the last of their unbroken run. Congs had hit back with a vengeance and were only two points behind at the finish.
The last few years
After 2008 there was a definite decline in playing standards at Woodlands. From title winners in 2008 to sixth position in 2009, and fifth in 2010 was not received well by the club;s hierarchy.
They had become too reliant on a potent bowling force and their batting was fragile and liable to sudden collapse.. During 2009 Swanepoel led by example taking 45 wickets to add to his 436 runs with the bat. He also created history by taking two hat-tricks in the same match at Saltaire to save the day for his side who were in danger of being beaten. Openers Richardson and Frankland both topped 500 runs in 2009/2010, while Ahmed's wicket-hauls were just pushing past 40.
Woodlands were constantly seeking that elusive player to make a difference, and for 2011 he came up with the league's marquee signing in York's prolific batsman Simon Mason. For years he had dominated Yorkshire League attacks and he was considered one of the prized captures of the era.
The other signing of note was Yeadon's all-rounder Grant Soames who would bring balance to the team. However, things went slightly awry with the latter obtaining a long-term injury through recreational football, and Dan Shuffe suffering perennial back pains.
The start of the season didn't exactly inspire confidence. It took Mason a while to find his feet but once he did he made 768 runs. With Richardson enjoying his best season at Woodlands scoring 1,010 runs, the batting took care of itself. The bowling was as deadly as ever with the formidable trio of Ahmed (43), Swanepoel (60) and Brice (54) all making hay. This trio occupied three of the top four places in the league's bowling averages with Ahmed leading the way at the top. Ahmed's 431 runs included many entertaining knocks during the season including the league's fastest fifty off just 16 balls. Rookie Usman Salim won the league wicketkeeping Trophy for 2011 to establish himself as Rushworth's natural replacement. To illustrate his progress he replicated this feat in 2013.
They had become too reliant on a potent bowling force and their batting was fragile and liable to sudden collapse.. During 2009 Swanepoel led by example taking 45 wickets to add to his 436 runs with the bat. He also created history by taking two hat-tricks in the same match at Saltaire to save the day for his side who were in danger of being beaten. Openers Richardson and Frankland both topped 500 runs in 2009/2010, while Ahmed's wicket-hauls were just pushing past 40.
Woodlands were constantly seeking that elusive player to make a difference, and for 2011 he came up with the league's marquee signing in York's prolific batsman Simon Mason. For years he had dominated Yorkshire League attacks and he was considered one of the prized captures of the era.
The other signing of note was Yeadon's all-rounder Grant Soames who would bring balance to the team. However, things went slightly awry with the latter obtaining a long-term injury through recreational football, and Dan Shuffe suffering perennial back pains.
The start of the season didn't exactly inspire confidence. It took Mason a while to find his feet but once he did he made 768 runs. With Richardson enjoying his best season at Woodlands scoring 1,010 runs, the batting took care of itself. The bowling was as deadly as ever with the formidable trio of Ahmed (43), Swanepoel (60) and Brice (54) all making hay. This trio occupied three of the top four places in the league's bowling averages with Ahmed leading the way at the top. Ahmed's 431 runs included many entertaining knocks during the season including the league's fastest fifty off just 16 balls. Rookie Usman Salim won the league wicketkeeping Trophy for 2011 to establish himself as Rushworth's natural replacement. To illustrate his progress he replicated this feat in 2013.
Young Scott Richardson (junior) proved that Woodlands are able to afford opportunities to their own juniors. Played as back-up medium pacer in the first team he impressed Cumberland enough to be given a run in their Minor Counties Championship campaign in 2012.
Entering the 2012 season there was good reason to back Woodlands to retain their title. None of their rivals had recruited impressively but Woodlands had Soames fully recovered to embark on his first injury-free season, while all-rounder Steve Piercey was added to the squad from Easingwold.
They started like a train and gave an early impression that the title race would be effectively over by August. After a further ten matches Woodlands had stretched their lead to 45 points and nobody could predict what was about to happen. Woodlands lost to Lightcliffe by 51 runs, before recovering to beat Manningham Mills by the narrow margin of two wickets. They had previously proved to be mortal by escaping defeat by the skin of their teeth in the Saltaire and Farsley fixtures, and avoided seemingly certain defeat when the weather intervened against Cleckheaton.
When Ahmed had to return to Pakistan due to the death of his father their fortunes dipped alarmingly. Three successive defeats reduced their lead to a mere four-points entering the final day's fixtures when Woodlands, Lightcliffe, East Bierley and Cleckheaton all had a chance of winning the title.
After being bowled out for 153 by a depleted Bradford & Bingley side they were facing certain defeat with their opponents poised for victory on 149-6 with half-centurian Matthew Duce on strike, and a very watchful Harry Smallwood supporting. Somehow the Bingley batters conspired to get themselves out and didn't manage another run to hand Woodlands the title. Woodlands had again pulled it out of the fire on Orrell's final appearance for the club.
After being bowled out for 153 by a depleted Bradford & Bingley side they were facing certain defeat with their opponents poised for victory on 149-6 with half-centurian Matthew Duce on strike, and a very watchful Harry Smallwood supporting. Somehow the Bingley batters conspired to get themselves out and didn't manage another run to hand Woodlands the title. Woodlands had again pulled it out of the fire on Orrell's final appearance for the club.
The consistent batting came from Soames who scored 418 runs at 34.83, Richardson with 528 runs at 33.00 and Mason who contributed 606 runs at 31.89. Brice again excelled at both skills scoring 408 runs at 25.50, and also taking 37 wickets at 17.03. Skipper Swanepoel was the outstanding bowler taking 54 wickets at 15.09.
Favourites to win the title in 2013 Woodlands were overtaken by a Cleckheaton side who in previous seasons had flattered to deceive even though they had the talent. On this occasion they prevailed during a season when Woodlands lost their talisman cricketer Brice with half a season to go. He had incurred an injury in an impressive Black Sheep Yorkshire Champions Trophy defeat of the holders Whitley Hall. Disappointingly they lost to Woodhouse Grange in the semi-final after a lacklustre performance. In the league it wasn't until mid- August that they looked like surrendering their title in a race that saw Pudsey St Lawrence pip them for second place. The best performers with the bat were Frankland (699), Mason (642), Richardson (571) and Soames (510), while Ahmed was the most penetrative bowler with 50 wickets.
Changes for 2014 have seen Farakh Hussain departing to Undercliffe, and opener Richardson to New Farnley, being replaced by prolific left hander Duncan Snell from York and Cumberland batsman Logan Weston who performed impressively for Southport & Birkdale in 2013. Snell was one of those outstanding signings that the Bradford League, and in particular Woodlands can attract from time to time. In 2013 Snell scored 1,411 runs at an average of 56.44, including a top score of 187. His Yorkshire League career record stands at 10,560 runs amassing 57 fifties and 24 hundreds.
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