Another massive weekend of cricket at LCC awaits as The Gordon Rigg Bradford Premier League website has our table topping 1st XI home fixture with 3rd place Gomersal as their Division 2 "Match of the Day!!"

This is the Gordon Rigg Bradford Premier League website's preview :

"Division Two
Lightcliffe (1st) v Gomersal (3rd)
This is the division’s game of the day with two of the favourites for promotion going head-to-head. Gomersal adapted well since relegation last year and have the league’s top wicket taker in Chris Rhodes. Their batting has been good too, with Liam Fletcher, Richard Wear and Shabir Rashid all making significant contributions. Lightcliffe have successfully blended the experience of skipper Alex Stead, Jordan Laban, Mohammed Jamal and Andy Walker with talented products from their outstanding junior section.
Lightcliffe – Most runs: Niall Lockley 148 Most wickets: 11 Mohammed Jamal
Gomersal – Most runs: 214 Liam Fletcher Most wickets: 21 Chris Rhodes"

The LCC view - Alex Stead is forced to shuffle his pack this weekend with frontline 1st XI spinners Jordan Pickles, Drew Russell and Mohammed Jamal all not available. The "talented products from their outstanding junior section" referred to on The Gordon Rigg Bradford Premier League website fills the void for The Villagers. 17 year old Leo F, who made a strong case for selection regardless of the availability of others with 3 for 11 last Sunday in the comprehensive cup defeat of Wrenthorpe is a direct left arm finger spinner replacement for Jamal. Another Lightcliffe junior product, albeit from a decade or more ago, is off spinner Marcus Kelly who offers a direct replacement for the off spin of Drew Russell and Jordan Pickles. 14 year old Monty R, who became Lightcliffe's youngest ever 1st XI player on the final day of the 2023 season, is rewarded for a very promising start to the 2nd XI summer and is expected to bat in the middle order. 19 year old allrounder Joey Sharp, 18 year old batsman Yusuf Malik and 15 year old all rounder George Leach complete the youthful look to the side. This is balanced nicely with the experience of left arm seamer Andy Walker, wicketkeeper batsman Ben Speak and top order batsmen Niall Lockley and Jordan Laban.
The match and match ball sponsor this week is former 1st, 2nd and junior XI player Johnny Fielding, now a regular spectator at Wakefield Road - we hope you enjoy your day!!

1st XI at home to Gomersal CC on Saturday in the Gordon Rigg Bradford Premier League 2nd division, 12 noon start:
*Alex Stead (capt)
Andrew Walker (vice capt)
Ben Speak (wkt)
Niall Lockley
Jordan Laban
*Yusuf Malik
Joey Sharp
*George L
*Monty R
*Marcus Kelly
*Leo F

Despite "losing" 3 regulars to the 1st XI, Rob Burton is again able to field a strong looking line up containing 8 current or former Lightcliffe junior players- again, this emphasises the importance and quality of our "junior production line" with 4 current juniors in the 2nd XI this weekend.
16 year old Oliver Barrowcliffe takes a break from his GCSE studies and will probably bowl as first change and the experienced Richard Thompson steps up to bat in the middle order.
Also playing to allow Monty to step up to the 1st XI is veteran wicketkeeper Mark Horne - Horney needs no introduction having had a stellar 1st XI career for well over two decades.

The 2nd XI at Gomersal CC on Saturday in the Gordon Rigg Bradford Premier League 2nd XI division one, 12 noon start:

Rob Burton (capt),
*Michael Brooke (vice capt),
*Isaac M,
*David Knight,
Richard Thompson
*Lucas A
*Sam W
Redford Holdsworth,
*Conor Butterworth,
* Oliver Barrowcliffe
Mark Horne (wkt)

The 1st XI make their seasonal bow on Sunday in "The Rigg Bash" T20 cup competition.
Perhaps with a nod to the future, Jordan Laban captains a youthful but strong looking Lightcliffe XI in this fast and furious 'Pink Ball' competition. Altofts at 1pm sees a repeat of the 50 over fixture on 18th May when Lightcliffe were victorious by 2 wickets.
The 4pm fixture pits the Division Three league leaders Great Preston CC v the Division Two leaders LCC - this may also give a good pointer or two for the upcoming Gordon Rigg Jack Hampshire cup Tie to be played at Great Preston on Sunday 30th June.

Sunday 9th June - "The Rigg Bash" T20 cup
1pm - Altofts CC
4pm - Great Preston CC

Jordan Laban (capt)
Ben Speak (wkt)
Niall Lockley
*Yusuf Malik
Joey Sharp
*George L
*Will L
Andrew Russell
Conor Butterworth
Redford Holdsworth
*Leo F