Priestley Cup: Townville & Pudsey St Lawrence get ready to rumble

The Gordon Rigg Priestley Cup final for 2025 will see Pudsey St Lawrence face Townville at New Farnley Cricket Club on Sunday 17 August (12 noon).

The Bradford Premier League showpiece will see two different finalists and a new name on the trophy. Last year, it was Woodlands who defeated Bradford & Bingley by six wickets.

Priestley Cup: The route to the final

Pudsey St Lawrence had a first round bye before defeating Undercliffe in Round 2, Methley in the quarter-final and most impressive of all, New Farnley in the semi-final.

New Farnley’s form this season has been unstoppable as they went on a 17-game winning streak that Mark Robertshaw’s 138 not out, allied with key wickets by Ricky Priestley (3-42), finally halted.

Meanwhile, Townville have beaten Pudsey Congs, Cleckheaton, Jer Lane and Carlton en route to the final.

Top performers

It’s not simple enough to cast an eye down the averages and yet it’s undeniably true that some cricketers seem to have found their form with the magic of a cup run.

Abdul Wahid’s 234 runs at an average of 78 included an unbeaten 100 off 105 balls at home in the quarter-final against Jer Lane. Pudsey St Lawrence’s Mark Robertshaw can be pretty pleased with averaging 220 to date. As ever, it’s about having an impact in a game and potentially a match-winning contribution.

Townville captain Jonny Booth (190 runs at an average of 63) struck 99 not out in the six-wicket win over Pudsey Congs back in early May at the Veezu Britannia Ground to set the tone.

With the ball, Townville duo of Tom Chippendale (nine wickets, strike rate of 22.8) & Matthew Race (eight wickets, strike rate of 20.6) have proved potent while Archie Scott (8 wickets, strike rate 14.7) is also one to watch out for.

As you’d expect me to note, stats are great…until you step out onto the pitch for another game to play the conditions and what’s in front of you.

History lesson

Thanks to the ever-excellent Bradford Premier League website, it’s possible to dive quickly into the archives.

Pudsey St Lawrence last lifted the Priestley Cup in 2014 when they beat Cleckheaton. They made the final in 2016 but were defeated by Woodlands after being bowled out for 99.

Townville’s sole appearance in a Priestley Cup final was 2021 when they lost to New Farnley by 34 runs at Intake Road. There are a few survivors on both sides from those finals and a chance to make 2025 a season to remember.

Head-to-head

When looking for clues, one potential source of truth is how sides are fared against each other in the league this year.

The Priestley Cup is with a pink ball, powerplays and fielding restrictions but same 50-overs contest as the league.

On 14 June at Townville’s Poplar Avenue HQ, the hosts (188-2) scorched to an eight-wicket victory over Pudsey St Lawrence (184-9). Jack Hughes (3-34) & Dulaj Ashen (3-41) shared six wickets before Jonny Booth (67 not out) dropped anchor, with support from Jack Hughes (49) and Kieran Collins (52 not out).

Townville are third in the Bradford Premier League (214) and Pudsey St Lawrence are ninth (170) – at the time of writing. The day before the cup final, Pudsey St Lawrence face Methley at home while Townville host Jer Lane.

It’s a bit of context but that’s about it. It might rain. It might turn sideways. There may be any number of variables, bad luck or solo acts of cricketing mastery that turn the tide.

New Farnley hosts

New Farnley Cricket Club are the host venue after Undercliffe were removed as the original choice due to their decision not to live stream the game.

New Farnley are at the back-end of a strong year where they’ve won 15 of 17 Premier League games and hold an 82pt lead over second-placed Woodlands. The Lawns Lane outfit can retain their title as early as this weekend with a win against Carlton at the Barry Jackson Ground on Saturday, allied with results elsewhere.

It would cap a phenomenal season where they won the Rigg Bash T20 Group A and are in the Heavy Woollen Cup final at Hanging Heaton later in August against Shepley.

Thinking of watching the Priestley Cup Final?

It’s £2 on the door for spectators on foot and £5 per car for parking (with ample parking for 500 vehicles).

Fully licensed inside and outside bars will quench the thirst and the BBQ will have burgers, kebabs, lamb koftas and chicken in flatbreads. Rounded off by ice cream if you’re pushing the boat out.

Should be a cracking final, difficult to call but plenty at stake.