Mirfield Parish Cavaliers’ reward for dumping out Almondbury Wesleyans will be a trip up the motorway to visit current holders Delph & Dobcross in the WisdenAuction.com Sykes Cup Second Round. Last season in their respective league fixtures, the honours were shared with Parish victorious over Delph in an easy win at home but they went down by a 306-run margin when they travelled over the tops.
The standout tie of the draw has to be a replay of last season’s semi-final where Shepley are tasked with a tough trip away to Hoylandswaine hoping to recreate their perfect performance which sent them to the final. Max Joice will face his former side after making the switch last winter with former Shepley all-rounder SP Singh now captain at Hoylandswaine.
Golcar make a short trip across the motorway to Barkisland in a fascinating fixture between two evenly-matched sides. Golcar have enjoyed a mixed start to the season so far after they bounced back from an opening day defeat in fine style by dominating Shepley. Barkisland skipper Darren Robinson will be playing against his former club and have great pedigree in this famous old trophy having won it two times previously in 2015 and 2008.
Another all-Premiership match-up will take place at Riley Line as Honley make the trip over to Kirkburton. Ryan Robinson, now a vital cog in the middle order at Honley enjoyed great success in his time at ‘Burton who have an ex-Honley player in their ranks in Jonny Butterworth. The Sykes Cup has been frustratingly elusive for Honley who haven’t made the semi-final stage since 2005 when they defeated Delph & Dobcross in the final.
Two Championship sides will be greedily eying a Premiership scalp. Rastrick who are flying high in the league have a tough proposition away at Armitage Bridge who have started the season well and don’t lose many on their own ground. Clayton West will also have their work cut out but will relish the visit of Premiership table-toppers Moorlands who possess a 100% record this season. If star New Zealand overseas Phil Tunnicliffe can reproduce his fine form where he scored a double hundred in the first round, who knows?
The lowest-ranked side left in the Sykes Cup is Mirfield and they will welcome Premiership Broad Oak to the Memorial Ground. Oak’s rise in recent seasons have been testament to the throng of homegrown talent that they have nurtured and will fancy themselves in our premier knock out competition. Mirfield have turned things around spectacularly from a dismal 2018 campaign and they currently lead the Conference. The final tie of the round sees a new-look Skelmanthorpe side travel to Premiership Thongsbridge who are enjoying the best form in at least two decades. Ben Raven-Hill’s side will start as strong favourites but will need to be on their guard against a side with nothing to lose.
Full WisdenAuction.com Sykes Cup Draw
Delph & Dobcross v Mirfield Parish Cav
Thongsbridge v Skelmanthorpe
Barkisland v Golcar
Kirkburton v Honley
Clayton West v Moorlands
Hoylandswaine v Shepley
Mirfield v Broad Oak
Armitage Bridge v Rastrick
Full Fired Up Corp Paddock Shield Draw
Scholes v Hoylandswaine
Linthwaite v Kirkburton
Broad Oak v Honley
Shepley v Almondbury Wes
Golcar v Delph & Dobcross
Holmfirth v Edgerton & Dalton
Skelmanthorpe v Barkisland
Birkby Rose Hill v Armitage Bridge
