Rounders news: Aireborough Belters lose unbeaten record in Pugh Cup thriller
The Pugh Cup rounders team pulled off a staggering victory over the unbeaten Aireborough Belters at Yeadon Cricket Club on Friday night, winning 22.5 to 18.
With a pint in one hand and a rounders bat in the other, Pugh Cup captain Chris Wiley lost the toss with Belters skipper ‘Chezza’, who sent the lively lads into bat.
A shaky start soon gave way to some big hitting, and the Pugh Cup team posted a first-innings score of 10 from their 30 balls, cheered on by a raucous crowd made up of rounders players from the Sports News Blitz-sponsored Horsforth Hawks and Wharfedale Wildcats.
With bat in hand, the Belters responded with 8.5 rounders after a fantastic finish to their innings, leaving the game finely poised at the halfway stage.
But as the pints loosened up the Pugh Cup players’ limbs, the ball started flying to all areas of the pitch - and the underdogs racked up 12.5 rounders in their second innings.
Captain Chris got his partner and star bowler Jen - aka ‘Lashes’ - out twice, and gave her a controversial send-off as the Belters batted bravely but fell short of the winning target, ending on 18 to taste defeat for the first time since forming two seasons ago.
Bowler Wiley told Sports News Blitz: “We turned up and watched on at the Aireborough Belters’ vigorous warm-up consisting of batting practice, shuttle runs and dynamic stretching.
“Comparing that to our warm-up which involved a few pints and a catch-up, I thought this might be a challenge. Well the lads stepped up.
“From minute one we were in to bat, confident albeit apprehensive. We needn't have worried.
“Massive hits from Lee, Ethan and Joe - mixed in with some interesting running from Rob H and a bat-dropping masterclass from Simon and Rob W, we eventually excelled.
“However the real show-stopping team performance came when we took to the fielding positions.
“Fast pace across the pitch, accurate throwing and catches worthy of the hall fame - the lasses didn't know what hit them.
“Some dubious umpiring decisions were swiftly brushed off as we dug in and saw out a convincing win against an Aireborough Belters team which haven't lost in two whole competitive seasons…until now.
“Til next year lads ⚾️⚾️.”
What is the Pugh Cup?
The Pugh Cup is a match between sports teams, historically played between a bunch of former cricket players and a bunch of football players.
The premise is to meet in the pub for pre-match drinks several hours before play, then try not to ‘puke up’ while fielding, bowling and batting in a Twenty20 match.
It was restarted in 2020 and after the 2025 edition of the Pugh Cup, the all-conquering Aireborough Belters challenged the cricket players to a ‘friendly’ game of rounders.
The rest, as they say, is history…
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