RUFFORTH Cricket Club have capped their remarkable transformation in fortunes - by reaching two Wetherby League cup finals in the same season for the first time in their 69-year history.

Both Saturday teams have overturned higher-league opposition on their way to their respective finals.

Rufforth's first team will bid to win the prestigious Fred Fleetwood Cup for the first time when they take on holders Barwick-in-Elmet at Church Fenton on August 9.

One week before the Wetherby League showcase, Rufforth's second string will face Leeds side St Chad's Broomfield in the Hare Cup final, which will take place at Long Marston tomorrow.

“It's a great achievement for the club and shows how far we have come in the last two years,” said first-team cup captain Dan Gunnell, referring to the fact the east York outfit almost folded in 2012.

As a division one side, Barwick will go into the final as favourites to retain the trophy.

But Rufforth, who were promoted to division two at the end of last season, will approach it with confidence having beaten top-tier side Bilton-in-Ainsty already in the competition.

Gunnell added: “I think that on our day we could beat anybody.

“There's a real buzz around the club at the minute and the cup finals are what everybody is talking about. So we're definitely going to go into them with our tails up.”

Headingley-based St Chad's present a difficult assignment for Connor Sanderson's second team with a gap of three divisions between the sides.

But Rufforth's seconds have already beaten three sides from leagues above them in the competition, including Chad's third team and Wetherby 2nds.

The summer of success at Rufforth has arrived after four years of transformation at the club.

The Gliders, established in 1946, were on the verge of folding at the beginning of 2012 due to a lack of players. An emergency general meeting was called to discuss their future and the enthusiastic young squad opted to retain two teams in the Wetherby League.

Since then, the club's membership has risen to more than 50 people and there are plans for a junior section to return in the near future.

The development of the club has delighted secretary Jack Doyle, who played a major role in resurrecting the fortunes of the club in 2012 as captain.

“From where the club was a few seasons ago, to be in two cup finals and have a strong squad of players for both teams is a huge success,” he said.

“Credit must go to all our captains in keeping players interested and progressing the club as whole.”