Barnsley Woolley Miners have been reinstated into the Yorkshire Leagues Knock-out Cup for Sunday’s final which their coach admits they go into as underdogs.
The Shaw Laners were beaten by seven wickets in the semi-final by Yorkshire Academy last month but then complained that Yorkshire first team star Harry Brook – who took two wickets and scored 52 off 25 balls – had not played the number of league games required to feature in the cup.The league sided with Barnsley who will now play Woodhouse Grange at Treeton CC in the final of the competition which pits the four Yorkshire Premier Leagues against each other.
Coach Chris Marples said: “It’s not an ideal way of getting to a cup final, and the Academy did steamroller us in that game. But the rules are the rules.” Woodhouse are second in the Yorkshire Premier North and could win it if they beat leaders York in their final game tomorrow. Marples said: “We’re massive underdogs but we go in with nothing to lose. The lads are definitely good enough to get the win.”
Barnsley’s last league game is at home to Aston Hall. If they win, they are likely to stay in their current position of third but defeat could see them drop to fourth or fifth. Marples said: “We don’t want the season to fizzle out. We have deserved to finish in the top three by the way we have played all season but we need to prove that. If we come third and win the cup that would be a massive achievement.”
