BUTTERSHAW St Paul's moved out of the Premier Division relegation zone with their first Central Yorkshire League win of the season.

They broke their duck by defeating bottom club Altofts by 54 runs but can expect a rough ride at title challengers Townville tomorrow.

Dharmesh Mistry played a huge part in Saints' first win of the season with an unbeaten 91, while Paul Carroll (59) and Kevin McDermott (48) helped their side close on 240-6.

Altofts managed just 186 in reply as veteran left-arm spinner Matthew Barnes, once with East Bierley, took 4-48 in 10.1 overs.

Batley's success in the Championship Division last season is already a distant memory as they find themselves in danger of demotion.

They take on fourth-placed Ossett at Mount Pleasant this weekend with just two points between them and the drop zone and desperately need to avoid a repeat of last week's 134-run defeat at Wrenthorpe.

Jordan Sleightholme (77) and Darryl Hendricks (65) top-scored for Wrenthorpe as the Batley attack struggled to restrict the home side to 270-7 (Muhammed Hafeez 4-72), while 40 from Ayaz Seedat was the best the visitors could manage in reply.

Ossett cannot match the consistency of the leading clubs at the moment and will go into the game at Batley feeling they have something to prove after being bowled out for 136 chasing a Wakefield Thornes total of 300-5 last week.

Shoaib Latif top-scored with 48 for Ossett before falling to Ravinda Palliyaguruge, who took 5-62 in 12 overs.

Mirfield Parish Cavaliers are next to go to Thornes and will not relish that trip on the back of a five-wicket defeat at the hands of leaders Methley that leaves them second from bottom.

Ed Walmsley (4-28) and twin brother Marcus (3-59) once again did the early damage for Methley, bowling out Parish for 192, before Marcus hit a match-best 47 to finish it off.

Eric Austin (95) was in superb form for Birstall against Hunslet Nelson but the Leeds side still overcame Birstall's 192-6 with three wickets in hand. A trip to Carlton is next for Birstall.

The top Championship Division game is at Northowram, where the third-placed side take on joint-leaders Liversedge.

Liversedge won by 28 runs at Wakefield St Michaels in their last outing, thanks largely to a fine 76 out of the first 104 by Sukrit Raman that helped them to 152 all out.

Skipper Graeme Winn (4-39) and young Suleman Mohammed (3-13) then bowled out St Michaels for just 124.

Veteran Mel Wood, who once captained Soothill to the Central Yorkshire League title, is set to make his debut for winless Crossbank Methodists in Division One as they entertain leaders East Leeds, while Adwalton go to Mirfield fresh from a 142-run win over Rodley.