Farsley strengthen their position at the top

Posted: May 20, 2007

Farsley strengthened their position at the top of the JCT 600 Second Teams Division One table with a 29 run win over Pudsey St Lawrence.

Farsley, who were pipped for the title by Woodlands on the final day of last season, owed their success to a determined innings of 55 from Steven Cockshott which helped them reach 149 for nine, and two good bowling performances from James Higgins (4-16) and Andy Walker (4-50). St Lawrence were dismissed for 120.

Ironically it is Lightcliffe, the team who inflicted the defeat that cost Farsley the championship last season and saved themselves from relegation at the same time, are second in the table.

They continued their good start with a six-wicket triumph over Gomersal. Lightcliffe bowled out their rivals for 86 with Adil Ladak taking four for 28. They eased to their target with Rob Crookes making 27.

Champions Woodlands are having a lean time. They suffered their fourth defeat in five matches as they went down by 78 runs to hanging heaton.

Howard Ellis (79) and James Byrne (76not out) provided the impetus for a Hanging heaton score of 273 for four. Woodlands slid to 77 for five before youngster Tom Smallwood (40not out) and Jamie Robinson (46not out) helped pus the score to more respectable 195 for eight.

Sovereign Health Care priestley Shield holders East Bierley had a thrilling two-run win over Pudsey Congs in a 28 overs a side contest. John Davis (43) and James Petty (35) helped East Bierley to 129 for seven in the face of good bowling from Liam Stanhope (4-22).

Congs tried hard to force victory, but fell agonisingly short of their target despite 30 from Shane Blanchard.

Saltaire finally had something to celebrate - their first win. They beat Baildon by 49 runs with youngster Awais Ejaz leading the way. He top scored with 44 as Saltaire made 130 for eight in 26 overs and followed up with two for six as Baildon were restricted to 81 for seven

There is just no stopping Esholt's veteran batsman Tony Brassington. He continued his run of good form with an unbeaten 75 in his side's 13-run defeat by Keighley in a 30 over contest.

Keighley owed their triumph to some fine batting from their openers Andrew Waggett (63) and Alan Broadley (40) who built the foundations for a total of 159 for four.

Newly-promoted Bowling Old Lane are up to fourth place. They defeated disappointing Yeadon by nine wickets. Opening bowlers Haseeb Younis (5-41) and Talat Sajawal (4-48) did the damage as Yeadon were dismissed for 90. Wicketkeeper Will darby top scored with 39. Khalid Rehman was unbeaten in 36 when Old Lane clinched their win.

There wasn't one single winner in Division Two. Brighouse v Idle, Cleckheaton v Bankfoot and Hartshead Moor v Great Horton were all abandoned without a ball being bowled, while in the three remaining matches rain caused disruption and meant that the side batting second didn't receive the same number of overs as the side batting first, thus ruling out the ten point win.

Table-topping Spen Victoria picked up six points from their match with Morley. They made 139 all out batting first thanks to 46 from opener Dave Hester and 43 from skipper Mark Loker Leg spinner Sam Medley was the pick of the bowlers with three for 39.

Morley were in deep trouble at five for four in reply, but skipper Dave Goodlad dug in and steered his side to safety with an unbeaten 53 as his side finished on 70 for six.

Undercliffe opening bowler Sohail Khan took six for 55 as they dismissed Windhill for 144. Undercliffe were struggling at 89 for six when their overs ran out.

Qasim Shafiq made a fine 79 as Manningham Mills made 169 for nine off 34 overs, and they had rivals Bradford & Bingley clinging on with their last pair at the wicket when their game ended. Skipper Peter Clarke again top score for Bradford & Bingley with 48, while Iftikhar Ali claimed five for 37 for Mills.