NEW Farnley have won the All Rounder Cricket Bradford Premier League's Priestley Cup for the first time after defeating Methley by 24 runs in a compelling final at Undercliffe yesterday.

New Farnley were all out for 254 off the final ball of their innings after winning the toss and electing to bat.

Methley made a brave reply but were finally all out for 230.

Marcus Walmsley was named man of the match for the losers after scoring a superb 93 and taking 4-41.

When New Farnley batted, the first wicket fell at 14 when Matthew Lumb had Simon Lambert caught at square leg by Eddie Walmsley for three.

Opening bowlers Sohail Raz and Matthew Lumb looked to build on the early breakthrough but Aussie Mitch O'Connor was looking good.

The decision to introduce Marcus Walmsley paid dividends in his first over as he trapped Dave Cummings lbw for 11 to a ball that skidded onto him.

Yorkshire wicket-keeper Andrew Hodd came in at No 4 and was soon off the mark with a drive through the offside for four.

Lumb bowled unchanged for the first ten overs from the pavilion end and finished with figures of 1-43.

Off-spinner Eddie Walmsley joined his brother in the attack as New Farnley's third-wicket pair looked to keep the scoreboard moving.

Overseas player Muhammad Akhlaq, the surprise semi-final bowling hero against Farsley, came into the attack for Marcus Walmsley to try and break the partnership.

O'Connor, fresh from his century against Farsley on Saturday, and Hodd continued to prosper, although there was a close call when Hodd's fierce straight drive was deflected onto the stumps by Akhlaq.

Hodd was looking increasingly confident, and O'Connor moved to his 50 off 83 balls with six fours.

The partnership was finally broken on 119 when Hodd was out lbw to Akhlaq.

The bowling change had worked for Methley captain Grant Soames, with the third-wicket pair sharing a stand of 76.

The dismissal of Hodd brought in New Farnley skipper Lee Goddard, with his side looking to continue their progress to a challenging score.

When the players took their second drinks break, the score was 126-3 with O'Connor of 55 and Goddard four.

O'Connor produced the day's first six when he lofted a ball from Eddie Walmsley over mid-wicket to move on to 63,while Goddard was soon reverse-sweeping the spinner and was quick to punish anything over-pitched.

O'Connor was moving in to a higher gear as Goddard also quickened the tempo with a succession of boundaries.

Goddard reached his 50 off 40 balls, including a six and eight fours, before being bowled by Ben Waite for 54.

O'Connor looked to be heading for his second century of the weekend when he was neatly stumped by Jake McCaffery off Marcus Walmsley for 97.

In the closing overs, the wickets tumbled as New Farnley looked to top up their total.

Marcus Walmsley and Sohail Raz (3-20) were the main beneficiaries, and a score of 254 was less than seemed likely when O'Connor and Goddard were batting.

Methley's openers Marcus Walmsley and Soames settled in quietly against the opening attack of Andrew Brewster and Richard Atkins.

After just six overs, skipper Goddard introduced James Middlebrook to the attack, with the off-spinner playing his final big game before retiring from playing to become a first-class umpire.

To play in this match, Middlebrook had to drive back last night after umpiring in the Kia Super League at The Oval, and today he is back down south for a four-day game at Beckenham.

Marcus Walmsley, who has been in fine all-round form for Methley this season, registered the first six of the innings with a straight drive off the former Yorkshire, Essex and Northants player.

The 50 partnership came up in good time, and Methley were building a platform from which to push on.

Walmsley was the dominant figure in the first-wicket stand as he took every opportunity to score.

Atkins bowled his ten overs straight through and finished with figures of 0-33 as Methley reached 78-0 after 20 overs.

Marcus Walmsley reached a deserved half-century from 70 balls, including a six and eight fours, as Methley moved on nicely.

Nick Walker replaced Atkins at the pavilion end, with Soames edging him through the vacant slip area as he moved on to 33.

Walker was replaced after one over by Middlebrook, and Soames brought up the 100 partnership with a reverse sweep for four.

Marcus Walmsley hit his second six of the innings when he lifted a ball from Middlebrook high over long on, and at the halfway point Methley were going well at 110-0.

New Farnley turned to left-arm spinner Luke Jarvis in their bid to break the partnership, and Soames greeted his introduction by hitting a straight six before a delicate cut for two took him to 50 off 77 balls, which included a six and six fours.

The breakthrough came in Jarvis's second over when Soames was out lbw reverse-sweeping for 54 to end a partnership of 132.

Walmsley moved into the eighties when he hammered Walker for a straight six, and Methley were in a strong position at 146-1 after 32 overs, needing 109 from the remaining 18 overs.

The 150 came up in the first over after drinks as the crowd continued to be treated to a compelling contest in the evening sunshine.

Walmsley hit another big six over midwicket off Walker to move into the nineties, but it proved to be his last scoring shot.

Jarvis claimed his second wicket when he had the opener caught by wicket-keeper Goddard for 93 to make it 168-2.

New Farnley brought Cummings back in place of Walker at the scorebox end, where he had bowled effectively earlier in the innings.

The target was down to 71 from 11 overs when Jarvis bagged his third wicket, this time his victim being overseas player Akhlaq, who was bowled for six.

It became an all-spin attack as Middlebrook returned.

Jordan Laban, a winner with Woodlands last year, greeted his arrival by hitting a four, but the bowler got his revenge when he bowled him later in the over to make it 188-4.

When Dan Shuffe drove Jarvis to cover to be caught by Walker, it was 192-5 with six overs remaining.

There was a further blow for Methley when Raz, promoted in the order, was run out to make it 194-6.

The clatter of wickets put a new spring in the step of the New Farnley side as they sensed the game was edging their way.

Ashton Blakey launched Jarvis for a big six in his final over as the spinner finished with an impressive 4-36.

Blakey's innings ended when he drove Middlebrook to mid off, and was dismissed for 16 to make it 216-7.

Matthew Lumb was run out without scoring before Eddie Walmsley was stumped off Middlebrook.

New Farnley sealed their win when Waite was stumped off the bowling of Cummings.

Defeat is always disappointing, but Methley should be proud of their performance in what was one of the closest-fought finals for a number of years.

Scoreboard pressure ultimately proved decisive, however, as Methley lost their last eight wickets for 46 runs.