Knocked out of the Priestley Cup in the first round and lying seventh in Bradford League Division One, Pudsey St Lawrence haven't had a lot to smile about so far this season.

But James Smith lightened the mood at Tofts Road on Saturday by smashing a half-century in only 16 balls against Gomersal.

Smith wasn't concerned with fours either. He must have reckoned 'I'll get 'em in sixes', as he hit eight in his smash-and-grab effort which equalled the league record set by Richard Peel for Bankfoot in 1997.

And Saints won too, by five wickets, reaching their 218 target in just 34.2 overs with Stewart Smith making 69 and Alex Stead 54 in a 123-run partnership for the second wicket after Mark Whitehead hadn't troubled the scorers.

And Gomersal's day was made a lot worse when news filtered through of Yeadon's seven-wicket victory at home to under-strength East Bierley. Opener Richard Gould kept up his fine run with 59, but the visitors were restricted to 175 for nine, Grant Soames taking four for 58 off 24 overs after relieving John Roper - who pulled his calf muscle in the opening over - and James Postill four for 53 off 17.

Yeadon judged their effort nicely, Harvey Anderson (20) and James Todd (76no) putting on 69 for the first wicket, and David Russell chipping in with 36 as victory was achieved in 45.1 overs.

This brings them to just a point behind third-from-bottom Idle, who were again involved in a tight finish, this time at home to Cleckheaton.

The visitors, at 194 for eight, needed seven to win with two wickets in hand when rain stopped play. Mind you they had been 168 for three, two run outs later hampering their cause.

Ian Austin was economy itself in Idle's 200 for nine, his analysis being 12-8-5-2, but Iftikar Ahmed was the main wicket-taker with six for 72. Ijaz Ahmed yet again proved what a good signing he is for Idle with 68, and Austin completed a fine match with 50 before being one of the run-out victims.

Mirfield had another eyebrow-raising result when they defeated Undercliffe by seven wickets at Intake Road.

Neil Parkinson (5-72) and Mohammed Asif (5-31 off 18.2) again bowled unchanged for Mirfield as the hosts were dismissed for 116, Jaffer Nazir (27) and Greg Lambert (21) providing a late flurry. Simon Horkin (44) helped to see Mirfield home.

Undercliffe's defeat and the rain at Idle means that Woodlands have taken over in second place after gaining a winning draw in light rain at Farsley.

This match was dominated by two batsmen - Nick Whitehill for Woodlands and Ashley Metcalfe for Farsley.

Stylish left-hander Whitehill made 118 on his 18th birthday, being particularly effective through the off-side. He added 121 for the second wicket with fellow Bradford League Young Cricketer of the Year Richard Pyrah (44) after Russell Murray had gone to the second ball of the day. Tim Orrell, Nick Rushworth and Safraz Ahmed all contributed to Woodlands' 267 for four as Farsley's lack of bowling depth was again exposed.

Metcalfe's effort was more of a solo, and it took a fine Ahmed delivery on the first ball of a new spell to dismiss the former Yorkshire batsman three short of a deserved hundred.

But Craig Hitchenor, earlier planted for a superb straight six by Ahmed, and Robert Thornton ensured there were no late dramas.

Baildon emerged from a rocky period to beat Hanging Heaton by 115 runs at Jenny Lane, Paul Spragg (52), Craig Thornton (67), David Clow (44), Tom Atkinson (43 and 3-46) and Mushtaq Ahmed (6-32) their main performers.

Meanwhile, Pudsey Congs stretched their lead at the top to a commanding 11 points with a seven-wicket success at depleted Spen Victoria.

The lack of John Wood and Chris Elstub didn't really come into play for Spen as they were dismissed for just 78, Neil Gill (6-27) and Naveed Rana-ul-Hassan (4-42) bowling unchanged for the champions.