CLECKHEATON'S challenge for a third successive JCT600 Bradford League championship could be hanging by the thinnest of threads by tomorrow night.

The Moorenders, who are fourth, are 42 points behind leaders Pudsey St Lawrence (168), who they meet at Tofts Road this weekend.

There almost seemed an air of resignation in Cleckheaton opener Tim Jackson's voice as he reflected on what has gone on so far this season and what is immediately to come.

Jackson, who along with Andy Gorrod is having a fine season with the bat for the champions, said: "If we win tomorrow, it will put us back in the mix a little bit.

"But we also have (second-placed on 143 points) Woodlands to worry about as well as St Lawrence."

Having lost at Bradford & Bingley on the opening day of the season, the weather gods then gave Cleckheaton a further kick in the teeth over the next two weekends.

They made 292-6 at home to Pudsey Congs on April 25, with Jackson hitting 109 and Gorrod 103, and Congs were 116-3 after 20.3 overs when rain intervened.

The following Saturday, Cleckheaton were 145-2 with 19 of their allotted 45 overs remaining, with Jackson on 69 not out.

"We feel we would have got 20 points from each of those matches, but it wasn't just that," said Jackson.

"It was who the other teams were playing. Woodlands had made 295-6 at St Lawrence on April 25, and the home side were 38-0 after eight overs but no-one chases down 295 against Woodlands.

"In fact, if you get maximum batting points, I reckon you are guaranteed to win nine matches out of ten."

In other key matches, Woodlands are at home to Lightcliffe, while third-placed Hanging Heaton (130) host third-from-bottom Undercliffe.

The top match in Division Two is third-placed Baildon (116), who have a game in hand over the top two, at leaders Morley (144), while second-placed Scholes (125) entertain Brighouse.

There will also be much interest in the basement battle between Keighley (41) and Idle (44) at Lawkholme Lane.

Fourth-placed Bowling Old Lane, who, like Morley and Scholes, have played ten, have a free date, while, Gomersal – the fifth team in the division to break the 100-point barrier – are at Windhill.

* The league's Twenty20 finals day at Pudsey St Lawrence has been put back a week from this Sunday until Sunday, June 28 due to the delayed Priestley Cup tie between Bankfoot and Pudsey Congs being switched to this weekend.

The T20 finals day timetable is – Semi-finals: 11am, Pudsey St Lawrence v Woodlands; 2pm Pudsey Congs v Hanging Heaton. Final: About 5pm.