Laycock leads from the front in Nixon Cup win
Rick Laycock played a captain’s innings as the Halifax League lifted the Nixon Trophy following a comprehensive 132-run success over their Huddersfield Central League counterparts on his home Booth ground. Laycock top scored with 77 as the Halifax League rattled up an impressive 296 for eight. He then returned with the ball to devastating effect as the visitors were humbled for 164.
Huddersfield won the toss and put Halifax in. Openers Toby Thorpe and Chris Dennison, who opened the battling for Copley in their Parish Cup success, made a steady start before the innings really picked up.
Halifax then put bat to ball in emphatic fashion late on with 41 runs coming off the final three overs.
Laycock bashed out six sixes and five fours in his 77 while Ross Soames and another Booth player, Patrick Thomas, assisted in the late onslaught to give Huddersfield plenty to think about.
Josh Hutchinson enjoyed a tidy opening spell as Halifax set about the task of defending their total.
He went on to record fine figures of three for 30 before Laycock took centre- stage claiming three for 33.
Chris Shannon, the third Booth player in the side, had two victims including the scalp of Huddersfield danger man H. Patel, who had started to swing the bat, Ross Soames producing a brilliant catch to end the batsmen’s resistance on 35. Halifax League v Huddersfield Central League Halifax League won by 132 runs HALIFAX LEAGUE 296 for eight T Thorpe c C Allen b J Abbott C Dennison c P Cooper b J White R Laycock c F Laher b J White J Hutchinson b H Patel O Thorpe c I Rajay b P Cooper C Shannon c I Rajay b J White R Soames not out P Thomas b R Motola Extras 8 1 8 0 17 15 S Mellor 5-1-23-0, J Hutchinson 8-330-3, J Sykes 7-2-43-1, R Laycock 6-2-33-3, C Shannon 4-1-13-2, O Thorpe 1.3-0-16.1. Barkisland under 11s claimed the silverware after beating Lepton in the final of the Drakes Huddersfield League Cup at Broad Oak.
Lepton won the toss and elected to bat with Seb Colman taking a wicket with the third ball.
Lepton were already on the back foot before Fenela Hibbett struck with the fourth ball of her first over leaving Lepton nought for two.
Barkisland struck again through Conor Butterworth with Harriet Grace taking two wickets for three runs leaving Lepton five wickets down after six overs.
Positive fielding and bowling changes from skipper Harry Finch, and some solid stumping from Finlay Grace, kept Barkisland in control before Lepton showed some spirit to post a score of 202 for seven.
Barkisland got off to a great start with openers Seb Colman and Jack Smith putting on a steady 15 runs,
Harriet Grace and Fenela Hibbert kept the runs coming and after their four overs Barkisland were 235 for none.
Third pair Finlay Grace and Adam Boyle pushed the run count up before Conor Butterworth and Joseph Mcdonnell lifted Barkisland to 258 for five.
The final pair saw captain Harry Finch and Tariq Myton keep the runs coming as Barkisland finished the innings 275 for five.
The day was topped off with Yorkshire players Harriet Grace and Fenala Hibbert being voted joint players of the match.
It has been a good season for Harriet Grace who was also a Ladies Taveners North winner with Barkisland while also helping West Yorkshire Girls under 11s to the District County Championship and also Yorkshire under 11s to the county title.