The 3rdXI suffered only their second reverse of the season as the loss of a late self-isolating covidee ultimately proved costly.

The match was is stark contrast to a convincing semi final win over the Huddersfield team, but was heavily influenced when captain Bruce Lunn learned of the late loss of bowler John Eliot (requiring to self isolate due to a track n trace covid connection).
The hard working Lunn discovered the normally bottomless Sunday resource of player availability had in fact a bottom, as the need to field a 2ndXI in the Priestley Shield Cup, and other non availabiity in Senior and all Junior ranks left the side with only 10 players.

The visitors exploited the resultant gaps in the field on a slow inert pitch mid innings with 2 strong 50+ stands to post a defendable total, despite the efforts of Neil Harvey's 4-54 return in containing the Wesleyans lower order.

Despite the shortfall in numbers Lightcliffe did not excel with the bat as a modest Almondbury bowling attack was made to look better than should have been the case, irrespective of numbers.

Lunn led from the front with 36 and Gary Lewsley's 59 was the backbone in reply, but the loss of 4 wickets in 12 balls to slow bowling, after a solid 44 run 4th wicket partnership with Harvey, was just at the point when the side should have kicked on. This rocked Lightcliffe and they never recovered to fall comfortably short.

The side hope to be in better form with a full complement with the Warshurst Cup beckoning next Sunday.

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