A two-wicket win over fellow strugglers Ossett gave Birstall their first points of the season in the Central Yorkshire League Premier Division and they hope to build on that at the weekend when they entertain a Wakefield St Michaels outfit who have also been slow starters.

Zafar Khan took 4-45 and then hit a match-winning 31 not out for Birstall last week and there was also a fine bowling stint from Craig Wood (5-20).

Ossett, now bottom of the table having swapped places with Birstall, face a tough return to action at joint leaders Methley while Mirfield Parish Cavaliers, well beaten at Altofts in their last game, now entertain a Northowram side who might have expected to be doing better under new skipper Mark Gilliver.

Gilliver (pictured) has yet to hit the form that made him the Bradford League’s record run maker and failed to score at newly-promoted Hunslet Nelson where his side were beaten by seven wickets.

Only three points separate the top five teams in Division One. Batley, Liversedge, Moorlands and Buttershaw St Paul’s are in hot pursuit of leaders Carlton, with Batley versus Liversedge the key game on Saturday.

Buttershaw lost top spot after a heavy defeat to Carlton but will hope to bounce back at struggling Ossett A. Skipper Paul Carroll top-scored for Buttershaw but a century from Carlton’s Phil Page proved their undoing.

Meanwhile, it proved an immensely disappointing day for Central Yorkshire League clubs in the Heavy Woollen Cup as Birstall and New Farnley’s interest in the competition ended along with Townville.