League leaders Woodlands slip up but Baildon back on track

The Bradford side’s surprise defeat saw them lose their lead at the summit to New Farnley, who cruised to a nine-wicket win over Undercliffe.

New Farnley top the table with three games to go on 298 points, with Woodlands on 293.

The two of them meet in the final game of the season next month in what could be a shootout to decide the destiny of the Premier Division crown.

Barrie Frankland hit an unbeaten 70 on Saturday as St Lawrence overhauled the Woodlands score of 216-8 to win with 11 balls to spare.

Skipper Brad Schmulian held the Woodlands innings together when they chose to bat first.

He made 90 but Josh Dracup (4-70) posed real problems for a much-vaunted batting line up that, captain aside, struggled to get going.

Unbeaten half centuries from skipper Alex Lilley (54no) and Aidan Langley (53no) enabled New Farnley to cruise past Undercliffe’s score of 125-9 with the minimum of fuss.

Gurman Randhawa (3-25) and Yasir Abbas (3-32) were responsible for keeping Undercliffe’s batters in check.

Next Saturday’s trip to Methley will be a tough test for New Farnley though, as Jared Warner’s side are up to third after defeating rock-bottom but in-form Pudsey Congs by 26 runs.

Methley have climbed above Jer Lane who saw their game with Ossett abandoned after the umpires became concerned about the pitch.

Ossett, who had chosen to bat, were 90-6 after 24.1 overs when play was halted.

Farsley boosted their hopes of avoiding relegation with a 90-run win over second-bottom Bradford & Bingley.

They posted an imposing total of 302-3 and it was always going to be a tough chase for a Bradford & Bingley side missing their overseas player Louren Steenkamp, who returned home days after making 157 in last Sunday’s Gordon Rigg Priestley Cup final.

Billy Whitford (54), Jack Luxton (45) and Ed Brown (38) battled hard, but their side were bowled out for 212.

Cleckheaton are just six points above the relegation zone after suffering an eight-wicket defeat at Townville.

Cleckheaton were bowled out for 98, as Muhammad Akmal (39) top scored but lacked support.

Sam Peter reduced Townville to 13-2 before an unbroken stand of 86 sealed a comfortable victory for the hosts.

The battle to avoid relegation is incredibly tight, with Saturday’s results further bunching the strugglers together.

Pudsey Congs are well adrift at the bottom but Undercliffe (202 points), Farsley (198), Ossett (190), Cleckheaton (188) and Bradford & Bingley (182) are all fighting to escape the drop.

Spinner Seif Hussain revived Baildon’s promotion bid by bowling them to a 33-run win over Bankfoot in Division One.

He took 7-32 against his old club as Baildon brought an end to their run of four successive defeats.

Thanks to Hussain, Baildon bowled out Bankfoot for 88 as they managed to defend a modest score of 121.

Skipper Kevin McDermott dominated the Baildon innings with 49 as his colleagues struggled against the bowling of Australian Mitchell Jones (4-30) and James Lee (3-12).

Kevin McDermott led from the front for Baildon, the only batsman on either side to look truly comfortable all afternoon. (Image: Ray Spencer.)

The result enabled Baildon to retain their hold on second place with Hartshead Moor now 11 points behind them after their 10-wicket win over bottom side Hanging Heaton.

Leaders Carlton need only 11 points from their last four games to secure promotion despite suffering their second defeat of the season against in-form Sandal, who beat them by six runs.

Like Sandal, Yeadon will be eyeing a late push for a top two finish after a comfortable 116-run win over a weakened Morley side.

Bowling Old Lane remain in the bottom two and are 30 points from safety after suffering a six-wicket defeat against East Bierley.

Ben Heritage (56), Sam Gatenby (49) and Adam Brown (41) enabled East Bierley to ease past the Old Lane score of 179.

Spinner Danny Cross led the way with 5-35 as only Saqif Ridwan (47) and Farhan Hussain (31) made an impression with the bat for Old Lane.

Finally, Batley fell to a 14-run defeat against neighbours Birstall.

Division Two leaders Crossflatts took another step towards promotion with a commanding 157-run win over Keighley, potentially condemning their derby rivals to relegation in the process.

The result earned them 20 points and enabled them to remain ahead of their closest challengers Gomersal and Hunslet Nelson, who also secured maximum points.

In contrast, Keighley now find themselves back in the drop zone with just four games to go.

Nathan Bradbury (42), Dominic Bennett (33) and Azhar Mehmood (30) enabled Crossflatts to make 252-9 despite the efforts of spinner Daanyaal Ahmed (4-43).

Keighley were only able to make 90 in reply, Lucas Keslinke (40) making the only score of note as Mehmood (3-27) and Sanjula Bandara (4-21) wrapped up victory for their side.

Gomersal romped to a 153-run win over Lightcliffe, while Hunslet Nelson defeated East Ardsley by 87 runs.

Heckmondwike & Carlinghow shrugged off the blow of having 20 points deducted for their poor disciplinary record by lifting themselves out of the relegation places with a 111-run win over Altofts.

Skipper Jonathan Burston made 110 as Buttershaw St Paul’s recorded the day’s biggest score of 365-8 as they defeated Hopton Mills by 157 runs.

Mills, who now find themselves propping up the table again, were dismissed for 208 as Harry Dibb (6-70) sealed victory for St Paul’s.

Adwalton boosted their chances of securing a promotion spot in Division Three with a 61-run win over second-placed Wrenthorpe, which reduces the gap between the two teams to 14 points.

Windhill & Daisy Hill are two points adrift of Adwalton after edging a two-wicket win over Wakefield St Michael’s

The Bradford side were indebted to Zaib Ali, who struck a vital 52 in their chase after earlier taking 4-30.

He was well supported by Windhill & Daisy Hill team-mate Shahzad Iqbal, who claimed 4-56.

Table-topping Great Preston have a 32-point lead after their nine-wicket win over Crossbank Methodists.

Spen Victoria beat Brighouse by eight wickets, rock-bottom Liversedge went down by 51 runs to East Leeds, while league newcomers Streethouse lost by five wickets to Gildersome & Farnley Hill.