WOODLANDS are the first team through to the All Rounder Cricket Bradford Premier League Priestley Cup final after defeating Townville by five wickets in a reduced-overs contest.

The cup winners of 2006 and 2016 ended Townville’s hopes of reaching their first final after chasing down their opponents’ score of 136 with 3.3 overs to spare.

Now they will have to wait seven days to see who they will play at Undercliffe on Sunday, August 26 as the tie between Farsley and holders New Farnley was abandoned without a ball being bowled and will be played next Sunday at Red Lane.

With the weather being more favourable at Townville, a 35-overs-per-side contest was possible and the home side batted first.

Their hopes of posting a challenging score looked bleak as they slipped to 52-5, but Conor Harvey was determined to make his mark.

The talented all-rounder hit three sixes and five fours in his 49 off 48 balls before being run out by Elliot Richardson as he helped his side to 136, with Ishfaq Ahmad (2-13), Muhammad Bilal (2-21) and Chris Brice (2-27) all returning tidy figures for Woodlands.

Only three other Townville players made double figures – opener Kris Ward (11) and, in the middle order, brothers Ritchie (17) and Nick Bresnan (13).

After making a slow start as Harvey opened with four maidens, ending up with five from his seven-ober spell, Woodlands gradually increased the tempo.

Elliot Richardson justified his promotion to No 3 by making the top score of 40 off as many balls as Woodlands triumphed, backed up by opener Sam Frankland (28), Ahmad (25), Tim Jackson (18) and Liam Collins (14no). Harvey was a model of economy with 1-17 from his seven overs but his efforts were not enough to spare his side from defeat.

The heavy morning rain claimed some major casualties on what was due to be the busiest Sunday of the season.

The Vitality ECB Club T20 Area final at Hanging Heaton was washed out and will now be restaged next Sunday at Bennett Lane.

Also washed out was Pudsey St Lawrence’s Black Sheep Champions’ Trophy first-round clash with York at Tofts Road.

The Saints won a toss of a coin to decide who will face Wakefield Thornes in the semi-finals.

The abandonment of the ECB T20 at Hanging Heaton means that the Heavy Woollen Cup final between Hanging Heaton – due to be played at Spen Victoria next Sunday – has been rearranged for Sunday, September 2.

The Hanging Heaton event was one of four ECB Area finals called off on Sunday.

As ECB competitions take priority, the moving of the Heavy Woollen Cup final was essential.