Leaders Cleckheaton edging closer to title

They are 17 points clear of Pudsey St Lawrence, who visit Priestley Cup winners Lightcliffe on Saturday.

Both teams recorded emphatic wins in their penultimate matches. Cleckheaton secured 20 points from a 168-run triumph over relegated Saltaire, while St Lawrence earned 19 points for their 44-run victory over Woodlands.

Yorkshire’s Iain Wardlaw made an unbeaten 63 which helped Cleckheaton post 283-8 and followed up with 4-20 as Saltaire were dismissed for 115, Irfan Amjad top scoring with 39.

Wicketkeeper Mally Nicholson (89), Richard Whitehurst (56) and Tim Jackson (38) were in good form for Cleckheaton.

Pudsey St Lawrence extinguished Woodlands’ last lingering hope of a third-successive title success with a 44-run win at Tofts Road.

A fifth-wicket stand of 114 between Chris Marsden (84no) and James Smith (69) helped St Lawrence to make 241-6 despite Scott Richardson taking 4-64.

Woodlands slumped to 89-6 before Umar Salim (49no) and Sarfraz Ahmed (31) helped them finish on 197-9 to deny St Lawrence a fifth bowling point.

Hanging Heaton’s Gary Fellows hit a sparkling 132 as the Priestley Cup finalists beat East Bierley by 96 runs, thanks to their score of 258-9. East Bierley captain Kez Ahmed took 4-65.

David Stiff took 4-40 as East Bierley were bowled out for 162.

Opener Callum Geldart made 101 and opening partner Nick Lindley 70 as Pudsey Congs hit 310-6 to crush Morley by 159 runs.

Captain Matthew Baxter made 52 for Morley as off-spinner Eddie Walmsley taking 4-56.

Relegated Baildon defeated Bradford & Bingley by 102 runs. Jonny Reynolds (48) top-scoring to see Baildon to 206-8. Sohail Raz took 5-59 as Bradford & Bingley were skittled out for 104,

Suleman Khan took 4-64 and followed up with an unbeaten 88 as Lightcliffe beat Manningham Mills by six wickets. Zarak Khan made 89 in Mills’ score of 212-7.