Woodlands took another massive stride towards clinching a third successive JCT 600 Bradford League Division one title with a nail-biting ten run win over Baildon.

It looked as if the title holders were going to lose for the first time in 22 league matches this season when Baildon bowled them out for just 99 with Suyash Burkal taking four for 41 and Jeremy Batty (3-21).

Woodlands also suffered the additional anguish of seeing their star all-rounder Chris Brice carried off after aggravating a knee injury while making their top score of 20.

Despite having to field a man short, Woodlands showed champion qualities as they hit back to dismiss Baildon for 89 with Safraz Ahmed taking five for 39 and Tosh Baker (3-16). Jonny Reynolds was Baildon's top scorer with 28.

Just what the win meant for Woodlands was illustrated by the cartwheeling celebrations of Safraz Ahmed after he clinched the wicket of Craig Hitchenor to seal their success.

Woodlands can now be crowned champions next Saturday when they visit second-placed East Bierley. If they avoid defeat and take 11 more points than their opponents the title will be theirs with three games left to play.

East Bierley actually shaved two points off Woodlands' lead - it is now a mere 50 points - as they took 17 points from a comfortable four-wicket triumph over third-placed Pudsey Congs.

Skipper Gavin Hamilton, the former Yorkshire and England all-rounder, played the lead role by making an unbeaten 64 to steer his side past the Congs' score of 176-9 with 6.5 overs to spare. Hamilton built on the platform set by openers Lee Goddard (31) and Gharib Razak (26) set in a partnership of 53. Mark Bray (2-26) was the pick of a lack-lustre Congs bowling attack.

Andrew Bourke (41), Babar Butt (35) and Andrew Bairstow (33) were the main scorers for Congs in an innings which never gathered the necessary impetus. Jaffer Nazir (3-28) was the pick of the Bierley bowlers.

Bierley are now 30 points ahead of Congs and look strong favourites to finish the season as runners up.

The result wasn't the perfect preparation for today's Sovereign Health Care Priestley Cup final against Cleckheaton who got into the mood for the big game with an impressive 80-run win over Bradford & Bingley.

Cleckheaton piled up an impressive 304-4 with opener Michael Nicholson making a splendid 105 which contained a six and 15 fours. He shared an opening stand of 120 with Rhys Jowett (40) which launched the innings in style.

Craig Thornton smashed an unbeaten 68 from 45 balls with six sixes and four fours as the Bradford & Bingley bowlers were made to suffer.

Mark Beckett (63) and Richard McCarthy (39) batted well in the Bradford & Bingley reply b ut they were dismissed for 224 as Ian Wardlaw took three for 46 and leg spinner Tom Pringle (3-62).

The battle at the bottom of the table is really hotting up. Idle seem doomed after their 69-run defeat by fellow strugglers Bowling Old Lane. Idle are 28 points adrift of Old Lane and Brighouse and a further point behind Farsley.

The three-way battle between Farsley, Brighouse and Bowling Old Lane looks like going to the last day of the season when Brighouse entertain Old Lane.

Last year's Division Two champions Old Lane are certainly fighting hard to preserve their top flight status. They gained a maximum 20 points from their win over Idle on an afternoon when Farsley and Brighouse suffered heavy defeats.

Overseas professional Shoaib Khan made a stylish 76 and Bilal Ejaz blasted 69 as Old Lane reached 231-8 despite the efforts of the ever-reliable Greg Colehan (4-39). Once again Idle's brittle batting crumbled. Paul Cummins (32) and Steve Thompson (30) tried to stem the tide but their side were dismissed for 163.

Brighouse's recent slump has now placed them in grave danger. They made 184 against Hanging Heaton with Tim Linley making 61. Their cause wasn't helped by skipper Mark Gilliver having to retire hurt without scoring. Nick Summerscales was the pick of the bowlers with four for 43.

Hanging Heaton had little trouble as they reached their victory target for the loss of one wicket. Openers Nick Whitehill (78no) and Chris Schofield (71) shared a first-wicket stand of 145.

Farsley suffered a similarly crushing defeat against Manningham Mills. They recovered from a poor start to post a total of 190 with Alex Blakeborough making 68 and Shabbir Rashid (47) in a third-wicket alliance of 104. Mills skipper Mahboob Hussain picked up five for 41.

Mills, who are now fifth in the table, raced to an eight-wicket win with opener Muenoddin Kadri hitting an unbeaten 105, an innings containing three sixes and 15 fours. Mills cruised home with 14.3 overs to spare.

All-rounder James Smith maintained his recent good form for Pudsey St lawrence by making 64 and taking five for 39 as his side defeated Saltaire by 50 runs. Alex Stead (61), Australian Tom Stray (55no) and Gareth Clough (33) helped their side to a total of 263-4.

Saltaire made a spirited reply with Imran Arif blasting five sixes and two fours in an unbeaten 57, while George Hicks hit 55.

Morley's promotion hopes suffered a battering at the hands of Great Horton's overseas all-rounder Kashif Naveed. He made a stunning 201 not out, an innings laced with nine sixes and 25 fours as Great Horton piled up a massive 375-2. Sadaqat Zaman (62) and Abid Alishan (61no) also made the Morley bowlers suffer.

Morley were dismissed for 142 when they replied despite 43 from overseas Shoaib Khan. The 233-run defeat sees Morley drop from second to fourth in the table.

Keighley moved into second place and boosted their chances of an immediate return to the top flight with a 44-run win over bottom team Hartshead moor. Matthew Bottomley made 67 as Keighley posted a score of 178. Adnan Raees (3-22), Danny Squires (3-44) and Trent Otto (3-48) were the chief wickettakers.

Hartshead Moor were dismissed for 134 as Richard Robinson took four for nine and Greg Kennedy (3-12). Craig Field hit a spirited 47.

Keighley are 29 points behind leaders Yeadon and four ahead of Esholt who thrashed troubled Undercliffe by 178 runs. Shazaid Khan (101), hit four sixes and ten fours, as did skipper Richard Whitehurst in his innings of 81. Baz King (62) also joined in the run spree.

Undercliffe, who are sliding ominously close to the re-election zone, were dismissed for 121 as Ben Platt (3-20) and Robin Hill (3-18) bowled well.

Gomersal kept alive their slim promotion hopes with a seven-wicket success over Bankfoot. New Zealander Garrick Sutherland took four for 39 as Bankfoot crumbled to 139 all out. Opener Richard Gould was again in top form for Gomersal. He made an unbeaten 83 to steer them to victory.

Leaders Yeadon need just seven points from their last two games to be assured of promotion. They kept their winning run going with a 106-run success over lowly Windhill. Opener James Todd (67) and skipper David Leather (47) helped Yeadon to a score of 211-7 despite the efforts of Adam Sutcliffe (5-41). Windhill were dismissed for 105 with opening bowler Richard Wood taking five for 19.

Windhill dropped back into the bottom two because Spen Victoria defeated Lightcliffe by four wickets. Veteran second teamer Chris Hester enjoyed his promotion to the first tyeam by taking six for 47 as Lightcliffe were dismissed for 150. Jonathan Wilson top scored with 41.

Spen eased home with Stuart Cope (37), Joel Pollard (35) and Richard Wear (31) securing the much-needed victory for their side.