ONE-time champions Pudsey Congs, who have not had the happiest of seasons in the JCT600 Bradford League, climbed out of the Division One bottom two at the expense of Morley after beating them by four runs in a tense finish at the Britannia Ground.

Consistent batting by Nick Lindley (75), skipper Gareth Phillips (43no) and Mustafa Kantar (36no) enabled Congs to gain maximum points with 231-5.

Morley lost three early wickets before overseas player Kashia Naveed (77) and Matthew West (44) led a revival. Colin Nuttall took up the challenge with 54 not out but the visitors finished agonisingly short on 227-8.

Mustafa Rafique took 3-58 and slow left-armer Glenn Roberts 3-39 to ensure a valuable win for Congs, only their third of the season.

This leaves them third from bottom, two points above Morley and 21 clear of basement club Yeadon, who lost at home to Bradford & Bingley by 29 runs.

New Zealand import Elliott Herd took 5-42 and Muhammed Saeed 4-50 as Bingley were bowled out for 158, with Chris Thompson (38), skipper Phil Slater (36) and Patrick Dixon (31no) their top scorers.

Yeadon also struggled with the bat and were restricted to 129-9, with spinners Noman Ali (4-25) and Harry Smallwood (3-33) sharing the bulk of the wickets.

Third-placed Pudsey St Lawrence's title ambitions suffered a blow as they went down by 32 runs at East Bierley in a dress rehearsal for next weekend's Priestley Cup semi-final.

Skipper Gavin Hamilton (56) and Neil Gill (35) were the top scorers as Bierley made 195, with off-spinner Steve Watts taking 4-43 and paceman Craig Wiseman 3-32.

Saints' normally strong batting line-up stuttered in reply, losing wickets at regular intervals as they were bowled out for 163, off-spinner Kez Ahmed taking 4-33.

Former Yorkshire opener Joe Sayers struck 109 not out as Farsley beat Lightcliffe by seven wickets to record their third successive win under new captain Mark Harrison.

Sayers, who struck two sixes and 14 fours, shared a second-wicket stand of 113 with Ian Philliskirk (47) to help his side overtake Lightcliffe's193-6 with 17 balls to spare. Alex Stead (59) and Rhys Jowett (44no) were Lightcliffe's top scorers.

Former Hanging Heaton player Mark Lawson led New Farnley to a 32-run win over his old club. Pace bowlers David Stiff (3-42) and Dan Busfield (3-48) made early inroads before Lawson (43) and Nick Johnson (44no) led a recovery to help New Farnley reach 167-8.

It proved too many for the visitors, who were restricted to 135-9 as Nick Walker took 4-56 and Dave McCallum 3-29. Busfield, a former New Farnley player, led Hanging Heaton's resistance with 42 not out but it was not enough.