WOODHOUSE Grange are the knockout kings of Yorkshire club cricket after adding the Rudgate Brewery Cup to their Yorkshire North Hunters T20 Blast success.
They made it a trophy double thanks to a thrilling three-wicket triumph over Barnsley in the final of the 40-over knockout competition for North and South Yorkshire's 24 Premier League clubs - with Richard Walton the hero thanks to a remarkable innings.
Woodhouse's weekend had started in frustrating fashion. They had needed an outright win at Clifton Park on Saturday to pip hosts York to the Premier League North title, but the rain made York champions without leaving their pavilion - Grange having to settle for runners-up spot.
Then in the Rudgate Brewery Cup final at Treeton on Sunday it looked for so long like they would finish the season's final weekend empty-handed - Barnsley appearing nailed on for victory as Woodhouse slumped to 92-5 in reply to the South Yorkshire side's 219 all out.
Grange bat all the way down and the ship steadied, but Barnsley were still getting ready to celebrate when number eight Walton went to the middle with the overs running out.
Walton isn't available every week because of work, but when he is on song he doesn't need to practise.
He had played a couple of key knocks in earlier rounds to get Woodhouse to the final - then went up another notch to win Sunday's showdown.
He smote 60 runs from 32 balls, 48 of them in boundaries, and, although he was caught on the rope at long-on in the penultimate over trying to finish the game with another big six, Woodhouse were home and hosed, the winning run coming straightaway with five balls balls to spare.
Earlier, the Woodhouse bowlers had to work hard to contain Barnsley's big hitters on the small stage at Treeton, near Rotherham. Barnsley's top six all made significant contributions but Grange held their nerve and their catches, Barnsley losing their last six wickets for 27 runs to be all out with three balls of their allotted 40 overs left. Spinner Simon Tennant finished Barnsley off with 4-29.
Woodhouse openers Andrew Bilton and Tom Young gave their side a good start with a run-a-ball stand of 50. But their departure heralded a clatter of wickets to put Barnsley firmly in the driving seat.
Skipper James Finch played foil and anchor, Steve Burdett improved the situation, but it was Walton who transformed matters, going rapidly from game-changer to match-winner as Woodhouse ended their season on a high.
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