Bradford derby for promotion as Crossflatts face huge finale

The Premier Division campaign concluded last week, with New Farnley crowned as champions for the first-time ever, ending Woodlands’ run of four successive titles, while Ossett and Pudsey Congs were relegated.

Carlton have already been confirmed as Division One champions, but that second spot is still up for grabs on today's final day, and it will go to one of the two aforementioned Bradford rivals.

Baildon are on home soil this afternoon, needing just three bonus points to gain promotion, so there is a highly-plausible scenario whereby East Bierley win the game, but their hosts still go up instead.

However, all is not lost for the visitors, who would pip Baildon to promotion if they bowled the home side out for less than 125, while losing four wickets or less in their own innings.

None of the other Bradford sides in Division One have anything to play for today, with Bowling Old Lane already relegated, their 20-point deduction for misconduct making no difference in the end, with them currently 47 points from safety.

In Division Two, Crossflatts face a seismic game at Gomersal, knowing a win will crown them as champions, but a defeat will likely see them miss out on promotion.

Flatts were top of the table until their defeat to Lightcliffe last time out, which allowed Gomersal to go two points clear of them at the summit.

Lightcliffe's Waqas Ahmed ran through Crossflatts last week, with the latter's promotion hopes now in serious doubt. (Image: Ray Spencer.)

The pair face off in Kirklees this afternoon, with the winner guaranteed to win the title.

Crossflatts skipper Dom Bennett said: “We are hoping for good weather and a big crowd, we are certainly going to bring quite a few.

“We must focus on who we are, and we are confident with the bat, and will play positively.”

Third-placed Hunslet Nelson are just four points behind Flatts and six off Gomersal, so if they can win at Lightcliffe, they will go up instead of whoever loses that top-two clash.

At the other end of the table, Keighley need eight points from their home game against Northowram Fields to guarantee survival, regardless of what second-bottom side Heckmondwike & Carlinghow do at already-relegated Hopton Mills.

In Division Three, Shipley-based Windhill & Daisy Hill have been handed a promotion reprieve by Wrenthorpe’s 20-point deduction for misconduct this week.

Great Preston are already up as champions, but the identity of the side who joins them in going up remains uncertain.

Wrenthorpe have now dropped from 320 points to 300, putting them behind Adwalton (306) and Windhill & Daisy Hill (303) in the table.

Ultimately, promotion is in Adwalton’s hands and if they claim an 18-point victory at home to fifth-placed Spen Victoria today, there is nothing Daisy Hill or Wrenthorpe can do.

Wrenthorpe are now very much outsiders, given they have dropped to fourth and have to visit champions Great Preston this afternoon in their final game.

But Daisy Hill have real hope, as they have a slightly easier game on paper than Adwalton, at home to seventh-placed league newcomers Streethouse.