Woodlands maintain pressure on leaders

Although Congs made a bright start, with in-form opener Nick Lindley (71) and Callum Geldart (43) among the runs, they were eventually dismissed for 180.

Chris Brice (4-24) and Duncan Snell (3-46) were the leading Woodlands wicket takers.

Woodlands showed patience in reply as Logan Weston made 59 not out from 109 balls, including nine fours, while Brice chipped in with 29 as the visitors reached their target in the 47th over with light fading.

Woodlands are 25 points behind leaders St Lawrence and 13 ahead of third placed Hanging Heaton, who overcame lowly Farsley.

Opener Nick Connolly continued his impressive form with a third league century of the season as he finished unbeaten on 119.

Connolly’s 142-ball innings contained a six and 14 fours and he was joined in a third-wicket stand of 177 by former Farsley captain Ian Philliskirk (92).

Gary Fellows hit 43 at the top of the innings as Hanging Heaton made 296-4.

Greg Pickles (68) and opener Jack Holland (41) battled well for Farsley, while Chris Henry produced a late flurry of boundaries in a knock of 41 not out as the Red Lane side finished on 205-8 with Philliskirk (3-43) and Fellows (3-54) pick of the bowlers.

St Lawrence extended their unbeaten start to the season to 10 matches with a five-wicket win at Undercliffe.

Champions Cleckheaton are in fourth place, 42 points behind St Lawrence, with the two sides meeting this Saturday.

The Moorenders overcame bottom side Saltaire by 68 runs.

Cleckheaton were bowled out for 207 thanks to fine contributions from their top four batsmen, Tim Jackson (54), captain John Wood (44), Andy Gorrod (32) and Ian Nicholson (30), while Adeel Ashraf (4-49) and Adil Mustafa (3-74) led the Saltaire bowling attack.

Paceman Iain Wardlaw took 6-46 as Saltaire were bowled out for 139, with Asif Ayub (39) top scoring.

Wardlaw’s figures were topped by Bradford & Bingley’s pace bowler Matthew Simpson, who claimed 7-40 as his side defeated East Bierley by five wickets.

Bierley were in deep trouble at 12-5 before Richard Atkins (45) and Nicky Rushworth (31) rallied their side.

Overseas player Haziq Tareen hit a six and eight fours in an unbeaten 56 as Bierley reached 164.

Bingley were reduced to 19-3 and 72-5 in reply before an unbroken sixth-wicket stand of 95 settled the outcome.

David Clow finished unbeaten on 57 while Chris Thompson made 40 not out.