Pudsey Congs edged in front in the Division One title race when they won by eight wickets at Yorkshire Bank on the day when previous leaders Bradford and Bingley faltered.

Congs, who notched their 11th victory of the season, were indebted to a fine all-round performance by their lucky-charm James Middlebrook.

The Yorkshire all-rounder took three for 20 in ten overs as Bank were bowled out for 134, and then led them to victory with an unbeaten 74.

Congs have secured nine of their victories when Middlebrook has been in the side, and he provided admirable support to chief wicket-taker Rob McFarlane, who took four for 26.

Billy Holmes was Bank's leading scorer with 52, but his efforts were in vain as Congs won with ease, despite losing six overs to rain.

Bingley, who have three of the top four sides to play in a tough run-in, were expected to beat Brighouse at Wagon Lane, but their batsmen struggled with one notable exception - Australian all-rounder Richard McCarthy.

McCarthy held the Bingley innings together with 67 not out as wickets fell around him, and then took part in what proved a crucial last-wicket stand of 38 with Graham Smith to leave Bingley all out for a disappointing 147.

At one stage Brighouse looked to be on course for victory, but they lost three wickets for 12 runs, including hard-hitting all-rounder Faisal Afridi, and had to settle for a draw 32 runs adrift with their last pair at the wicket.

The result meant that Bingley had to settle for four points, and they are now two points behind Congs.

Third-placed Baildon lost ground after they could only manage one point at Cleckheaton.

Openers Paul Winrow and Andrew Gale dominated the Cleckheaton innings, Winrow scoring 85 and Gale (48) as the home side made 200 for six.

Baildon never looked like challenging that total after losing half their side for 72, and finished on 123 for eight as slow left-arm bowler Paul Booth took five for 48 and Andy Yates took three for 27. Booth has now taken 60 wickets this season.

Hanging Heaton's hopes of retaining the championship all but disappeared when they lost by 12 runs in a tense finish at Farsley - a result that eased the home side's relegation worries.

Farsley's innings of 215 for three was dominated by a third-wicket stand of 115 between Mark Whitehead (84no) and skipper John Goldthorp (53).

A quickfire 43 not out from Andrew Doidge, which included three successive sixes off Javed Umarji, lifted Farsley above 200.

Consistent batting down the order kept Hanging Heaton in contention, but they lost their last four wickets for seven runs as Steve Ellis took four for 80.

The bottom two clubs - Windhill and Drighlington - both lost. Pudsey St Lawrence beat Windhill by seven wickets following a fine all-round performance by Mark Thompson, who took five for 31 as Windhill were dismissed for 121, and then shared an unbroken stand of 73 with Pierre De Bruyn to win the match for the home side.

Wet ground conditions delayed the start of the match between bottom club Drighlington and East Bierley, but it didn't matter because Bierley won by seven wickets after the home side suffered an extraordinary collapse.

Michael Speck (33) and Iqbal Khan (46) helped Drighlington to 73 for none, but they then lost their ten wickets for 17 runs. Paul Carroll then scored 66 not out as Bierley cantered to victory.

Third-from-bottom Lidget Green won their fourth match of the season, beating Yeadon at home by 32 runs. Lidget totalled 167 and then bowled out Yeadon for 135, Asif Mir taking eight for 64.

The result boost Lidget Green's chances of climbing out of the bottom three. They are just three points adrift of both Brighouse and Yeadon. For Yeadon, relegation would be a blow after winning Division Two last year.