Birstall boosted by Marlow and Williams

TOWNVILLE'S Premier Division title hopes were rocked by a four-wicket home defeat against strugglers Birstall.

Paul Marlow (89no) and Connor Williams (67) shared a 131-run stand as Birstall achieved their first league win by overhauling Townville's 243-6 that included half-centuries by Jonathan Trower and Peter Hepworth.

It put Birstall one point behind Ossett, whose poor start continued when they lost by 65 runs at New Farnley.

Leaders Wrenthorpe beat bottom side Batley by 10 wickets but did not collect maximum points because they failed to bowl them out.

Openers Jonathan Smith (75no) and Gary Fellows (70no) steered Wrenthorpe to victory with an unbroken 175-run stand in 20.4 overs after Tom Glover (4-41) limited Batley to 174-9.

Wrenthorpe are three points ahead of champions Methley, who beat Wakefield SM by seven wickets thanks to all-rounders Hamid Khan (98 and 3-49) and Hermanda Alles (39no and 5-35).

Third-placed Northowram Fields maintained their challenge by beating Altofts. Tom Marsden (60) led Northowram to 213-8 and Nadim Hussain (4-58) and Mathew Rushworth (3-34) bowled out Altofts for 207 despite opener Alan Burton's excellent 82 off 103 balls.

Liversedge's slide continued with their third straight defeat when they lost by six wickets at Wakefield Thornes, for whom Phil Callaghan and Richard Foster struck half-centuries.

Hunslet Nelson retained a five-point lead in Division One when Tommy Roy (52), Daniel Calverley (43) and Derrick Hammill (5-31) led them to a six-wicket win against Mirfield PC.

Gary Close (4-25) rescued second-placed Carlton by bowling out Woodkirk for 143 after Garry Dawber (4-41) and Altaf Patel (4-54) had toppled Carlton for 164.

Carbibbean gained their first points when Sohail Hussain (86), Hariss Shah (41) and Terence James (40no) guided them to a seven-wicket win against East Ardsley.

Dharmesh Mistry (106no) and Gary Wainwright (66) put on 141 and Paul Carroll hit a rapid 71 as Buttershaw St Paul's made 315-3 against Scholes, who were bowled out for 244 in reply.

Moorlands beat Methley by 33 runs and Ossett had a one-wicket win against East Leeds.