New Farnley have been crowned Bradford Premier League Premier Division champions for the first time after their game with Woodlands was abandoned on Saturday.
The rain ruined what was promising to be an absorbing contest with Woodlands in a strong position on 114-0 after 28.1 overs with skipper Brad Schmulian unbeaten on 54 and Tim Jackson – in his last innings before retirement – 41 not out.
New Farnley skipper Alex Lilley admitted “It felt strange” when his side’s title triumph was confirmed.
He said: “We have been close in recent seasons and Woodlands have always just had the edge.
“They have set the standards for everybody else and to finally win the title has been the reward for a wonderful team effort.”
New Farnley had to overcome the early return home of overseas player Cam Fletcher and a succession of injuries, plus successive defeats to Woodlands, Townville and Cleckheaton before reeling off nine straight wins.
Lilley said: “Players have stood up when it has mattered.
“It has been a real team effort, and I am proud of everybody and what we have achieved.”
There was also key action at the bottom of the table with Bradford & Bingley and Cleckheaton securing wins to escape relegation.
Bradford & Bingley defeated Ossett by six wickets while Cleckheaton overcame Pudsey Congs by 100 runs.
The former game acted as a relegation shootout, and the result means that Ossett will be relegated along with Congs.
After Ossett had made 229-6 after rain reduced the contest to 42 overs, Bradford & Bingley were set a DLS target of 249. which they achieved with 20 balls to spare.
Jack Hartley claimed 4-67 to keep Ossett within reach, before Bradford & Bingley were given a good start in their reply by openers Jacob Slator (70) and Joe Pyrah (43).
Callam Goldthorp (75) continued the good work as they secured the win needed to guarantee their top flight place for another season.
Opener Waleed Akhtar (95) was joined in a crucial second wicket stand of 132 by Bradley Sylvester (53) as Cleckheaton made 267-5 against Congs.
Sylvester (3-37) followed up his batting exploits by taking the first three wickets as Congs were made to struggle.
They were eventually bowled out for 167, as Cleckheaton secured safety with something to spare.
An unbroken seventh wicket partnership of 130 between Kyle Welsh (91no) and Calum Fletcher (40no) powered Undercliffe to a four-wicket win at Farsley.
The hosts had set a challenging total of 266-8, but Undercliffe spinner Jude Roberts (4-78) ensured his team-mates were given a chase they were capable of pulling off.
Methley reached 127-8 in 23 overs before their match with Jer Lane was abandoned at Park Avenue. Yasir Ali (3-32) and Adal Islam (3-55) were the key bowlers.
Townville had made 185-4 from 34 overs against Pudsey St Lawrence before that game was rained off.
Cameron Sharp hit his maiden Bradford Premier League century yesterday as Baildon moved to the brink of promotion to the Premier Division with a five-run win over Birstall, which you can read all about here thanks to our sports correspondent Bill Marshall.
East Bierley kept their challenge going with a five-wicket win at Hartshead Moor on Sunday, knocking the latter out of the promotion race as a result.
Hamza Saeed (60no) and Tom Burton (60) enabled the visitors to reach a revised DLS target of 166 from 28 overs with one ball to spare.
The pair were indebted to the earlier hard work of skipper Dwayne Heke, who had taken 4-50 to keep Hartshead Moor in check.
East Bierley had won by five wickets on Saturday too, beating Sandal on that occasion.
On Saturday, Bankfoot beat Bowling Old Lane by 14 runs and Yeadon crushed Hanging Heaton by 10 wickets, putting both in the promotion hunt.
But the pair had their Sunday games abandoned due to rain, meaning neither can now go up.
Bowling Old Lane were consigned to relegation by that aforementioned defeat against Bankfoot, but they did taste success yesterday, winning by seven wickets on DLS against Sandal.
Rock-bottom Hanging Heaton, on their way down alongside Old Lane, were unable to hit back after their Saturday humiliation, their game against Batley abandoned without a ball being bowled.
Like Morley, Batley had both of their weekend games abandoned.
Carlton were another side washed out on Sunday, but they sealed the title the previous day after their no-result against Birstall gave them enough points to get over the line in top spot.
The promotion battle in Division Two is going down to next week’s final round of fixtures, with just six points separating the top three.
Crossflatts were knocked off top spot after suffering a six-wicket defeat against Lightcliffe.
Their decision to bat first backfired dramatically as they were reduced to 28-8, and they were indebted to their last two batters, Dan Trowers (31) and Muhammad Raza (22no), for hauling them to a vaguely respectable 103 all out.
But Lightcliffe had no trouble chasing that total down, which meant Gomersal took over at the top after a four-wicket win over East Ardsley.
Hunslet Nelson boosted their promotion challenge with a five-wicket win over Heckmondwike & Carlinghow.
And that defeat for Heckmondwike allowed Keighley to climb out of the bottom two with a dramatic one-wicket win over Scholes.
Lucas Keslinke proved to be their match winner as he hit five sixes and six fours in an unbeaten 88, which took them past the Scholes score of 264-5 with four balls to spare.
Greg Keywood (3-32) was the pick of the bowlers for Scholes, who were earlier indebted to Liam Thomas, whose 114 lit up their innings.
James Dobson took 3-62 for Keighley, which proved to be a crucial return.
Keighley are now 13 points ahead of Heckmondwike & Carlinghow but will be mindful that on the final day, their rivals are away to already relegated Hopton Mills, while they are at home to Northowram Fields.
Hopton Mills’ relegation was confirmed despite them defeating Northowram Fields by 40 runs.
Altofts chased down a Buttershaw St Paul’s total of 273 to win by two wickets, which was tough on Zahir Abbas, who had claimed 5-71.
Amjid Hussain (58) and Jack Wakeling (56) added 111 for the fourth wicket after St Paul’s made a shaky start, and good contributions down the order helped them post a total they must have expected to defend successfully.
Great Preston sealed the Division Three title on Saturday by coasting to a 72-run win over Windhill & Daisy Hill.
And with Wrenthorpe enjoying two thumping wins at the weekend, they look set to join them in being promoted.
Adwalton’s five-wicket win over Brighouse on Saturday had kept them right behind Wrenthorpe, but they slipped up yesterday with a 24-run defeat to Windhill, which could prove fatal to their chances of going up.
That victory kept Daisy Hill’s own hopes of promotion alive, but they are 17 points behind Wrenthorpe heading in to the final round of fixtures, and with Adwalton still ahead of them too, the Bradford side need something of a last-day miracle to clinch that coveted second spot.
Rock-bottom Liversedge were hammered by Streethouse and Wrenthorpe at the weekend, and will be grateful that their miserable season will be over next weekend.
Spen Victoria crushed East Leeds by nine wickets on Saturday, while Wakefield St Michael’s edged home by three wickets in a low-scoring game against Gildersome & Farnley Hill on the Sunday afternoon.
Aside from the aforementioned games involving Wrenthorpe, Liversedge, Windhill and Adwalton, Wakefield and Streethouse were the only other sides to play to a conclusion on Sunday.
It was St Michael’s who came out on top, as they defeated league newcomers Streethouse by five wickets.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here