BUTTERSHAW St Paul's are still awaiting their first points for actually playing in the All Rounder Cricket Equipment Central Yorkshire League after Bradford League-bound Birstall had the better of a draw in a 40-overs-per-side Premier Division game at St Paul's Road.

Saints next face the other club moving to Bradford next season when they visit leaders Methley.

Against Birstall there was a fine performance with the ball from Buttershaw bowler Muhammed Saeed (4-38) but Eric Austin (103) and Nick Kaye (60) blasted their side to 235-7.

Pritesh Mistry claimed Kaye's wicket but his eight overs cost 61 runs, while one over from Matthew Barnes went for 18 as Austin's innings produced 14 fours and five sixes.

In reply, James Robson hit a quickfire 93 – 76 of which were in boundaries – before being run out. Buttershaw were on 199-9 at the close and, while they go to Methley, Birstall are at home to Wrenthorpe.

Methley have completed all four games so far, winning three, but elsewhere the repeated weekend rain is taking its toll of fixtures, with seven out of 12 Championship games abandoned in the last three weeks.

Particularly unlucky are Liversedge, who have not played since the opening day of the season.

After three successive abandoned matches, cricket chairman Allan Trevitt – ever the optimist – quipped: "To be honest, we've more points than I thought we'd have after four games."

Last week, Bradford League club Gomersal were due to host Liversedge's fixture with East Ardsley, who are currently overhauling their ground and having to play home games anywhere they can find a ground.

In the event, heavy overnight rain rendered the pitch unplayable and left the Roberttown Lane men once again without a game.

In this weekend's Championship games, Liversedge are at home to front-runners Azaad, Northowram Fields entertain East Ardsley and Hopton Mills face a visit from Oulton.

Mirfield have struggled since their return to Division One but collected a rare victory when they beat Crossbank Methodists by 41 runs.

This was thanks largely to a superb 86 from No 8 Andrew Young in a 122-run seventh-wicket stand with Scott Young after their side had slumped to 24-6.

Chasing 178-7, Crossbank were all out for 137 with 16 balls of the game remaining.

This week Crossbank are at home to Gildersome, Adwalton are at East Leeds and Mirfield are at Rodley.

Sunday is Jack Hampshire Memorial Trophy day, with the first-round draw including: Batley v Azaad, Oulton v Mirfield, Mirfield Parish v Rodley, Ossett v Caribbean, Buttershaw St Paul's v Wakefield Thornes, Crossbank Methodists v Birstall, Wakefield St Michaels v Liversedge, Methley v Adwalton and East Leeds v Northowram Fields.