Title stays with holders Woodlands in dramatic final day

They captured the last four Bradford & Bingley wickets without a run being scored to snatch a four-run victory, and secure their sixth championship in eight seasons.

It enabled them to dash Lightcliffe’s hopes of a first-ever title after they had beaten Undercliffe by 119 runs to secure a maximum 20 points.

Lightcliffe must have been ready to uncork the champagne when Bradford & Bingley reached 149-6 in reply to Woodlands’s 153 all out. But once Chris Brice removed Matthew Duce for 58, Grant Soames (3-12) captured the last three wickets without addition to the score.

Captain Pieter Swanepoel took 5-40 for Woodlands, but the star performer was 21-year-old batsman Liam Brearley, who made an unbeaten 52 which rescued his side from 34-5 with help from Chris Brice (37) and Tim Orrell (25).

Woodlands finished with 287 points, seven more than Lightcliffe, who were Division Two champions a year ago.

Chris Taylor (87), Alex Stead (86) and Alex Lees (46) helped them make 256-3 before dismissing Undercliffe for 137 with Josh Wheatley taking 6-44.

East Bierley, who led the table briefly after beating Pudsey St Lawrence by eight wickets, finished third. Off spinner Kez Ahmed (5-18) helped dismiss St Lawrence for 110 then Gavin Hamilton (77) powered East Bierley to victory.

Cleckheaton’s hopes of a first championship ended in disappointment as they suffered a three-wicket defeat at Pudsey Congs.

Ian Nicholson (48) and captain John Wood (37) helped Cleckheaton to 210-7, but Pudsey Congs eased home with opener Nick Lindley (79) and Andrew Bairstow (53) leading the way.

Hanging Heaton’s seven-wicket win over Saltaire guaranteed their safety. Openers Rob McFarlane (102) and Mark Lawson (93) shared a stand of 198 as they chased down Saltaire’s 223-8.

Nawaz Sardar (62no), Waleed Akhtar (57) and Fahid Rehman (39) were the top scorers for Saltaire.

Last season’s runners-up Farsley were relegated after losing at Manningham Mills by four wickets. Their total of 144 was overhauled as Adam Patel made 43.

Baildon were confirmed as Division Two champions and Morley will join them in Division One after beating fellow promotion contenders Yeadon by six wickets.