East Bierley's Greg Wood sweeps during his innings of 172 not out

East Bierley and Farsley will contest the 2009 Sovereign Health Care Priestley Cup final at Wagon Lane, Bingley on Sunday, August 30.

Greg Lambert 2-13

Bierley, inspired by a magnificent 172 not out from Greg Wood, beat Yeadon by 178 runs, while Farsley defeated Bradford & Bingley by four wickets to reach their first first final since 1995.

On that occasion their opponents were East Bierley and they won by 112 runs at Wagon Lane.

In contrast, East Bierley will be hoping for a repeat of 1981 - the year they did the league and cup double - when they beat Farsley by 37 runs.

The outstanding individual performance in the semi-finals came from Wood. He arrived at the wicket with his team 0-1, but transformed the situation with an innings which contained 14 sixes and 13 fours.

He shared in a second wicket stand of 168 with Steve Simpson (50) and put on an unbroken 113 for the third wicket with Andrew Rennison (34no) as East Bierley made 281-2.

Wood and Simpson first stabilised the innings and then gradually upped the tempo as they got the measure of the bowling. Simpson's 50 included five fours, and after he departed Wood and Rennison blasted 113 in the last nine overs of the innings.

The acceleration provided by Wood is illustrated by his innings statistics. he took 74 balls over his half century, 60 for his second 50 and needed just 17 balls to move on to 150.

With the exception of former East Bierley seamer Greg Lambert, who took two for 13 in his ten overs, the Yeadon bowlers all came in for heavy bombardment.

Yeadon never recovered from a poor start when they replied and were dismissed for 103 as Paul Hutchison took three for 21 and Lee Goddard (3-37)

The win caps a tremendous weekend for the club, they also went top of Division One on Saturday.

Farsley, who saw off holders Pudsey Congs in the last round, dismissed Bradford & Bingley for 148 after winning the toss and putting them in. Chris Thompson battled hard to make 82, stiking a six and eight fours.

Chris Henry (3-21) and Joe Greaves (3-16) were the pick of the bowlers on a memorable afternoon for Farsley.

Gareth Phillips (33), James Lee (28no) and Ashley Metcalfe (27) guided Farsley to their victory target. Off spinner David Clow was Farsley’s best bowler with three for 38.