Connolly hits 68 to see off Liversedge target

LIVERSEDGE'S slump continued when they lost at Methley who closed the gap on Premier Division leaders Wrenthorpe.

Chris Leaf (3-27), Hemantha Alles (3-42) and John Rickers routed Liversedge for 137 and opener Nick Connolly hit an unbeaten 68 as champions Methley knocked off the runs.

Methley are just one point behind Wrenthorpe who continued their unbeaten start to the season at New Farnley but they failed to collect maximum points.

New Farnley finished on 220-6, replying to Wrenthorpe's 267.

Tim Walton hit three sixes and 12 fours in an unbeaten 75 as Townville kept alive their title hopes with a 10-wicket victory over Altofts.

Ritchie Bresnan (3-25) – younger brother of Yorkshire and England star Tim – Andy Carrington (2-42), Adam Walton

(2-23) and Dean Woolsey (2-23) sent Altofts collapsing from 72-2 to 142 all out.

Walton shared an unbroken opening 146-run stand with Jonathan Booth (60no) as Townville knocked off the runs in 26 overs.

Third-placed Northowram Fields lost ground with a one-wicket defeat at Wakefield Thornes.

Brad Hauenstein (61), Tom Marsden (55) and Nadim Hussain (47) guided Northowram to 245-5 which Thornes overhauled, despite Chris Thompson's 5-35.

Sam Tee was Thorne's match-winnner with an excellent 95.

Bottom side Batley achieved their first league win by beating Birstall by 27 runs.

Ossett slipped deeper into relegation trouble when they lost by 74 runs to Wakefield St Michael's.

Simon Stirling (58) steered St Michael's to 188 and Michael Carroll (5-43) and Jake Thorne (4-25) sent Ossett reeling from 37-1 to 114 all out in reply.

Unbeaten Hunslet Nelson retained a five-point lead in Division One by crushing Scholes.

A century stand between Joe Smith (43no) and Danny McTernan (40) guided Hunslet to victory after Phil D'Arcy (3-36), Derrick Hammill (3-18) and Will Stiff (2-26) routed Scholes for 119.

Paul Carroll's 122 was in vain for Buttershaw St Paul's who lost by three wickets to second-placed Carlton.