The 3rd’s finished August unbeaten with a comfortable win against Blackley, albeit that the bar is lowered by playing only twice in five summer weeks, due to the League’s fixture structure.

On this occasion they had a new match winner in Marcus Kelly, who produced an all too rare all-rounder performance with Bat, Ball and in the field.

Despite being asked to bowl on what appeared an excellent pitch for batting Blackley started the stronger, as the swing of Heppenstall produced false shots and reduced the home side to 30-3.

Lightcliffe rallied as Jordan Pickles (continuing his solid form this season for the club with 33) dug in and thereafter played some well timed strokes. His role however became increasingly supportive as Kelly, once established produced some of the biggest maximums of the season for the Sundays.
Their 87 partnership changed the game’s dynamic, which was reinforced with a 60 run fifth wicket stand of 66 thanks to 30 from vet Kevin Booth.

Marcus’s frustration was evident on missing a slower ball, leaving him 5 runs short of a second century for the 3rd’s.

The initial stages of the second innings mirrored the first, as Blackley lost early wickets to Josh Booth who induced mis-timed shots from both openers - both caught by his senior relative in the now unfamiliar cover area fielding spot.

Richard Tesseyman (suitably re-hydrated after benefiting from a day focused solely on the finer points of Test Cricket at Headingley 48 hours earlier) struck next, as Kelly bagged a slip catch with an assist off the ‘keepers gloves.

Blackley declined further as the tandem spin changes of Ben Stringer (2 wickets) and Kelly reduced the opposition to 46-6.

The visitors did eventually show some form, demonstrated by Steve Pollard’s 69 and the latter stages of the game were spent attempting to prise out lower order batsmen, and despite a fine boundary catch from Marcus to dismiss Blackley's main threat the visitors batted out the game.

Although the final two games of the season are against the top sides, this win should finally unburden the 3rd’s of the threat of relegation.

With the Thirds having to swap their League fixtures/venues to accommodate the Women’s XI, this brings a premature end to Home matches at Wakefield Road for the Sunday side for 2017.