Title favourites Pudsey Congs scored an impressive ten-wicket win over Cleckheaton yesterday - and then heard that it would not count.

They bowled out their rivals for just 57 with pacemen Azhar Abbas (6-20) and Mark Gill (4-37) sharing the wickets. Stuart Clifton smashed an unbeaten 42 as Congs raced to their target but their joy at winning was short lived.

They received just one point instead of the normal six for a victory because theirs was the only match to be played in the Bradford League because of rain. There has to be play in a minimum of three for full points to be awarded.

It means that they are now faced with a final match showdown with second-placed Bradford & Bingley at the Britannia Ground on Saturday to decide whether they lift the championship for the first time or not.

Congs take a three point lead into the last match after recording a four-wicket triumph against Farsley on Saturday.

Former Yorkshire batsman Neil Nicholson hit an unbeaten 53 and opener Andy Bethel 47 as they successfully chased a target of 194.

Highlight of the Farsley innings was a maiden League century for Mark Whitehead. The former Adel batsman made 114 not out - an innings which was laced with five sixes and 12 fours.

Bradford & Bingley, who won the title in 1998, kept their hopes alive with a 43-run win on Saturday.

Their victims were Baildon in a remarkably low scoring game at Jenny Lane. Bradford & Bingley looked in danger of defeat when they crawled to 92 for nine in their 50 overs on a wicket which assisted the seam bowlers but paceman Richard McCarthy had other ideas.

He produced a devastating spell of six for 17 and supported by Peter Graham (4-17), dismissed Baildon for 49.

Cleckheaton bowlers Paul Booth (4-17) and Adam Swallow (4-19) guided their side to an impressive 75-run triumph over defending champions Hanging Heaton.

Their efforts ensured that Hanging Heaton were dismissed for just 103 in reply to a Cleckheaton total of 178 for nine which contained a battling 59 from skipper Chris Pickles.

Cameron Bailey hit a six off paceman Jaffer Nazir to enable Pudsey St Lawrence to inflict a first home defeat of the season on East Bierley.

Bailey was unbeaten on 25 as St Lawrence edged home by two wickets. His efforts ensured that the good work of James Smith (57) and Iain Priestley (45) didn't go to waste.

East Bierley had made 184 for nine, a score which owed much to an unbeaten 68 by skipper Dermot McGrath who was celebrating the birth of his son earlier in the day. Left armer Gary Severn bowled well for St Lawrence and claimed figures of five for 53 as they climbed into fourth place.

Brighouse and Yeadon staved off the threat of relegation with comfortable wins over teams who will be dropping into Division Two.

Brighouse piled up a score of 249 for four against Drighlington with their talented young batsman Zube Raje making an unbeaten 102 and Keith Dickinson chipping in with a fine 89.

Drighlington were dismissed for 167 in reply despite a battling 74 from Phil Carter.

Yeadon's in-form bowler Jon Roper inspired their five wicket win over Windhill. He took six for 17 as they bowled out Windhill for just 72. Yeadon overcame a couple of early setbacks before sealing their win.

Lidget Green saw their last hopes of avoiding a bottom three finish disappear when their match at Windhill was called off yesterday.

It was a sickening blow coming, as it did, just 24 hours after they had suffered a narrow one-wicket defeat by Yorkshire Bank.

Paceman Carl Smith took six for 44 for the Bank as they shot out Lidget Green for just 100, but it was to prove a stiffer target than it looked at first.

Bank slipped from 77 for three to 99 for nine before edging home despite the efforts of spinners Ijaz Khan (4-23) and Asif Mir (3-40).