Defending champions reeling after shock loss

METHLEY'S bid to retain the Premier Division championship suffered a setback with a shock 16-run defeat at lowly Birstall.

Chris Smith's 52 was in vain as Paul Blakeley (5-29) bowled out Methley for 188, replying to Birstall's 204-7 that featured a century by Indian opener Connor Williams.

Methley are six points behind leaders Wrenthorpe who continued their unbeaten start to the season by crushing Ossett.

Tom Glover bagged 6-39 and Joe Ellis 2-21 to skittle out Ossett for 96.

Northowram Fields, New Farnley and Wakefield Thornes maintained their title challenges.

Brad Hauenstein (117no) and Ben Burkill (65no) shared a match-winning unbroken 135-run stand as Northowram won a high-scoring game against Batley whose four-wicket defeat was tough on Ayaz Seedat who hammered 151 off 124 balls.

Seedat, Mohammed Tahir (50) and Tarik Patel (43) led Batley to 303-9.

All-rounder Ian Fisher struck 88 and bagged 3-22 as New Farnley trounced strugglers Liversedge by 123 runs.

Chasing Wakefield Thornes's 135, Townville were sent reeling from 39-1 to 113 all out by David Meiring (4-43), Derek Colquhoun (2-25) and Matthew Varley (2-12).

Michael Carroll (Wakefield St Michael's) produced the day's outstanding bowling performance, snapping up 8-18 from 13.1 overs to rout Altofts for 54 after Simon Stirling (81) had guided St Michael's to 223-9.

Hunslet Nelson and Carlton – the top two in Division One – both collected maxmum points.

Glen Thompson (3-22), Sohail Raz (2-6), Robert Barker (2-7) and Derrick Hammill (2-29) set up Hunslet's five-wicket success at Methley and Chris Kippax claimed 4-26 as Carlton beat Caribbean by four wickets.

Mirfield Parish Cavaliers climbed to third when Paul Brook (4-43) and Michael Padgett (39) gave them the edge at Scholes. A ninth-wicket stand of 82 between Majid Majeed (92) and Daniel Hope (29no) was in vain for Scholes.

Moorlands' promotion hopes were dented when Woodkirk's Garry Dawber (5-38) toppled them for 155 in a four-wicket defeat.

Paul Carroll hit 75 and claimed 4-59 as Buttershaw St Paul's beat Ossett by two wickets.