CANNY spin bowling by Kez Ahmed and Nick Lindley helped Pudsey Congs to a 23-run victory over Farsley in a rain-reduced Sovereign Health Care first round Priestley Cup tie.

Yorkshire wicket-keeper Dan Hodgson was the chief threat for the hosts after Congs had made a healthy 202-9 off 39 overs at Red Lane.

Hodgson took a heavy toll on some short-pitched bowling from James Pearson and, although fellow county player James Wainman had difficulty with his timing as Congs skipper Gareth Phillips bowled a tidy spell, they added 98 for the third wicket.

However, the tide turned emphatically in Congs' favour when Hodgson went down the wicket to left-armer Lindley and was smartly stumped by Luke Holroyd.

Although Hodgson's younger brother Tom looks a fine acquisition and was in the runs from the off, he could not get enough of the strike as Farsley's innings fell away against a fine second spell from 19-year-old left-arm paceman Joshua Holling.

Wainman had looked equally potent with ball in hand when Congs batted and Yorkshire trialist Tom Craddock only conceded seven runs from three overs of accurate leg-spin.

But Lindley (54) added 67 for the second wicket with Phillips (38) and 61 for the third with Joe Greaves (32), Adam Patel shoring up the middle order with 35.

Babar Butt, the only survivor of the all-conquering Congs old guard from the early millennium, said: "The wicket was very wet when I arrived in the morning but credit to Farsley for getting the game on.

"Spin played a massive part in the win but so did our young pacemen Josh Holling and Mustafa Rafique."

Farsley's chairman Dave Storr said: "We let them get a few too many runs but Dan batted well, although he didn't need to go down the wicket when he did."