BUTTERSHAW St Paul's, having looked out of the promotion race at the halfway stage of the All Rounder Cricket Equipment Central Yorkshire League Championship campaign, go into their next game, at home to Oulton this week, with renewed hope.

At East Ardsley, Buttershaw's Paul Robinson put in a superb display with the ball, taking 6-26 in 15 overs to help bowl out the home side for just 94.

In reply, veteran David Battye, with 3-27 in 15 overs, ensured it would be no easy ride for Buttershaw but a sixth-wicket unbroken 50-run stand between Bradley Neyland (17) and Dharmesh Mistry (22) saw them safely home.

Second-placed Liversedge, with five extra overs from bowling out leaders Batley early for 168, went into the 50th over of their innings in the top-of-the-table game at Roberttown Lane poised for victory.

With three wickets in hand, only 17 runs to win and with skipper Graeme Winn going well, it looked all over but just 24 balls later they were all out 166, with Winn stranded on 33 not out, as Muhammed Tahir claimed two wickets in two to snatch a two-run win that put his side 11 points clear.

That defeat sees Liversedge now taking the trip to fourth-placed Northowram Fields this week with the promotion chase wide open.

Batley, at home to East Ardsley, are looking good for a first-time return to the top flight, but that five-wicket win for Buttershaw leaves them in third, only seven points adrift of the second promotion place, and a win for Northowram over Liversedge will put them back in the hunt.

Scholes' decision to join the Bradford League next season means only one team will drop into the Championship from the Premier Division this year and, while that is good news for one of the three sides battling it out at the bottom, it is unclear which one that will be.

Birstall, pointless from their 117-run defeat at home to leaders Methley, are still third bottom but only five points ahead of bottom club Hunslet Nelson, who went down by six wickets at Ossett.

In between these two are Hopton Mills, beaten by 123 runs at Wakefield Thornes but still only three points behind Birstall.

The battle resumes this week, with Hunslet facing fifth-placed Mirfield Parish, Hopton Mills at home to Ossett, and Birstall going to Carlton.