Pudsey Congs skipper Babar Butt with the Sovereign Health Care Priestley Cup

Pudsey Congs lifted the Sovereign Health Care Priestley Cup for the fifth time in 13 years after defeating Cleckheaton by 87 runs at the Britannia Ground today.

It was a totally professional performance by the Congs who seized the initiative from the moment when skipper Babar Butt won the toss and elected to bat, and never let go.

Their batsmen all played their part in building a challenging score of 259-4 and then paceman Tom Glover took over with some devastating fast bowling which earned him figures of five for 28 from nine overs as Cleckheaton were dismissed for 172.

Glover was deservedly chosen as Man of the Match for his outstanding performance on a pitch which seemed perfect for batting.

Congs knew they had to dominate the young Cleckheaton side from the start and they did just that. Scott Cunningham was quickly into his stride and notched up all of the first 21 runs.

By contrast his opening partner Alexis Twigg, confronted by some extremely accurate bowling from left armer Craig Wiseman, took 21 balls to get off the mark, but the the shot which got him under way was worth waiting for - a sumptuous straight drive off Ian Wardlaw for four.

The openers compiled a stand of 55 before Cleckheaton skipper John Wood struck. He had Cunningham well caught in the gulley by Ian Nicholson for 30.

Twigg was joined by former Castleford batsman Andrew Bourke and together they added 75 for the second wicket in a partnership full of eye-catching strokes.

Twigg reached his 50 off 74 balls with his ninth four, but after striking one more boundary he was trapped lbw by off spinner Mohammad Zaman for a stylish 60.

When Bourke also perished to an lbw decision against leg spinner Tom Pringle for 37, Congs were 150-3 and there was just a glimmer of hope for Cleckheaton.

Left-handers Andrew Bairstow and Matthew Doidge ensured it was the very briefest of glimmers as they added 61 at a run a ball. Doidge made 30 before he offered a smart return catch to Pringle, but Bairstow went on to make an unbeaten 61. He struck a six and seven fours as Congs reached 259-4 with a a late flurry of runs.

Pringle was the most successful bowler with two for 51, but the most impressive was undoubtedly the economical Wiseman whose 10 over spell cost just 27 runs.

Cleckheaton knew they had to start well if they were to have any chance of winning the cup for the first time. Opener Michael Nicholson had made a century against Bradford & Bingley 24 hours earlier, but he last just four balls before being bowled by the fired-up Glover.

The paceman looked sharper and faster than in many of his recent outings and he was soon celebrating a second major scalp when he had Ian Nicholson trapped lbw with the total on 14.

It was a wretched start which got a whole lot worse when opener Rhys Jowett, who scratched around for six runs, was undone by Glover's pace and was bowled.

Overseas batsman Mohammad Zaman seemed eager to attack to take advantage of the fielding restrictions in the first 15 overs of the innings, but his anxiety led to him trying playing with the air of a desperate man.

Craig Thornton became Glover's fourth victim when he was bowled by an absolute beauty and Cleckheaton's innings was in disarray when Zaman carelessly lofted a catch to Doidge from the bowling of Nathan Bromby just seconds after Butt had brought up his fine leg fielder and stationed Doidge at long off.

At 59-5 there was a real danger of the final becoming a rout, but the Wood brothers had other ideas. While Ian played watchfully, skipper John struck out. He hit two huge sixes off successive balls from Bromby, but just when it looked as if he might be turning the game around, he gifted his wicket away.

Wood tried to charge left arm spinner Glenn Roberts but missed with an ugly heave at the ball and was stumper by wicketkeeper Bairstow who initially fumbled the ball, but had time to recover because Wood didn't try to regain his ground.

Tom Pringle (26) and Ian Wood (28) fashioned out a seventh wicket stand of 50 before Pringle lofted a ball from Roberts to long on where substitute Ben Birkhill, who had only just come on to the field, took the catch.

Young Marcus Walmsley was left facing an impossible task and he had only scored one when he edged a ball from Elliott Wilson to wicketkeeper Bairstow.

The end was in sight when Ian Wood's innings finally ended when his drive was well caught by Mark Bray to give Glover his fifth wicket.

Congs' victory was sealed when Ian Wardlaw was bowled by Wilson for seven. Cleckheaton had been dismissed for 172 and knew they had come off second best on the day to a fired-up Congs team.

Glover was the pick of the bowlers but those wily old campaigners Bray 0-31 in ten overs and Roberts (2-24) in ten created the pressure which had a big impact.

Cleckheaton's youngsters will go away to lick their wounds and no doubt they will learn from the craft and know how of their rivals who made every bit of their experience count.

Congs are not the force they used to be, but this was an impressive performance and they showed what it takes to win a big match.

Man of the Match Tom Glover receives his award from Russ Piper of Sovereign Health Care