IT was a weekend of mixed emotions for the five Yorkshire-born players who took part in the Cheltenham and Gloucester Trophy final at Lord's.

Worcestershire's trio of Bradfordians, Steve Rhodes, David Leatherdale and Gareth Batty, all ended up on the losing side, Rhodes suffering a side strain while staging a mini-batting recovery with Batty, who later got clobbered for five fours in an over by Gloucestershire's Ian Harvey before dismissing him.

Rhodes could not take his place behind the stumps which led to his deputy, and another Bradfordian, James Pipe, being allowed to put on the gloves although he did not start out in the game. It was a memorable moment for Pipe who has just recovered from a dreadful eye injury similar to the one suffered by Kent's David Fulton. And Pipe scored his maiden century this week against Hampshire.

Batty's fortunes improved when he was named in the England squad for the final Test at The Oval.

The fifth member of the Yorkshire quintet was Gloucestershire paceman Mike Smith, from Dewsbury, who was delighted to receive a winners' medal even though there was personal disappointment when he had to leave the field with an injury after sending down five overs with the new ball in the morning.

Updated: 11:11 Saturday, September 06, 2003