JCT 600 Bradford League Second Teams review July 29, 2007

Posted: July 29, 2007

The battle at the bottom of the JCT 600 Bradford League Second Teams Division One table is really hotting up. The four teams who occupied the last four places going into today's matches - Baildon, Woodlands, Esholt and Gomersal all won.

And it means that eight points separate Baildon - who have climbed to sixth after two successive victories - and second from bottom Farsley. Gomersal are only a further 14 points adrift after their win over Hanging Heaton.

The scene is now set for a nail-biting battle over the remaining eight matches to see which two teams are relegated to Division Two. It promises to be an enthralling battle.

Gomersal may still have the most work to do to get out of trouble but they showed their fighting qualities with a 70-run success against fourth-placed Hanging Heaton. Their success was set up by a breezy innings of 92 from Alan Sumner which helped them to a total of 230-5. Usman Salim (43) and Steve Pollard (36) were also key contributors.

Hanging Heaton were dismissed for 160. Howard Ellis (37) was their top scorer as Ryan Kitson (3-33) and Andy Fearnsides (3-31) bowled Gomersal to a victory which earned them 19 precious points.

Esholt, who had dropped to 13th on Saturday, also had a 70-run win. They defeated Pudsey St Lawrence who were dismissed for 89 as Steff Garbus took five for 10 after Esholt had made 159-7. The 17 points earned have enabled Esholt to move ahead of Farsley. Both teams have the same number of points, 157, but Esholt have won one more game.

Farsley, last season's runners-up, now face a battle to avoid the drop. They were bowled out for 88 to go down by 120 runs to East Bierley. Skipper Matthew Anderson (5-5) and Dan Abbott (4-18) were responsible for skittling Farsley out after East Bierley had made 208-8. Leigh Abbott (47), Chris Brook (37no) and his brother Arron (30) were the main contributors.

Last year's champions Woodlands secured their second win of the weekend as leaders Lightcliffe suffered their second defeat in 24 hours. Relegation-threatened Woodlands won by 49 runs to bag 18 points.

Teenage opener Cieran Garner made a stylish 91 as Woodlands compiled a score of 182-7 in the face of some good bowling from Alex Tait (4-54). Lightcliffe, despite a determined innings of 81 by James Shaw were dismissed for 133 as Harry Smallwood claimed four for 35.

The result means that Lightcliffe have seen their lead reduced from 37 points to 13 over the double weekend. Second-placed Yeadon - who were languishing in the bottom two in the early weeks of the season - continued their good run with a 61-run win over Pudsey Congs.

Wicketkeeper Will Darby hit 43 and Paul Machell (33) as Yeadon made 179-9 before bowling out Congs for 118. John Carey took three for 25 and Steven Gilks (3-43). The result leaves Pudsey Congs on 157 points - the same total as Esholt and Farsley.

Baildon's revival continued as they defeated Bowling old Lane by 82 runs to move into sixth position. Chris Reynolds made 54 and Ross Todd (40) as Baildon scored 157-9. Skipper Haqueq Sidique was the best Old Lane bowler with four for 54, while Khalid Rehman picked up three for 51.

Old Lane's batting crumbled against Jamie Abbott (4-5) and Mohammad Abbas (3-9) as they were dismissed for a disappointing score of 75.

James Wilkinson hit an unbeaten 58 as Keighley defeated Saltaire by four wickets. He made sure that his side cashed in on the good work of Ashley Robinson who took five for 52 as Saltaire were bowled out for 135. Tauseef Arshad (42no) and Awais Ejaz (40) were the pick of the Saltaire batsmen.