THINK of heavyweights clubs in the JCT600 Bradford League, and seven spring to mind – Pudsey St Lawrence, Pudsey Congs, Woodlands, Cleckheaton, East Bierley, Hanging Heaton and Bradford & Bingley.

Of those, Saints, Cleckheaton, Woodlands and Hanging Heaton are vying for the First Division title and Congs and Bingley are in mid-table.

That leaves Bierley, who, for the second successive year, are in a relegation battle.

Last year, they finished third from bottom with 164 points, with Morley (143) and Yeadon (127) being relegated.

This season, with seven matches to go, they are again third from bottom with 125 points, with Saltaire (90) and Farsley (121) below them.

From 2001 to 2013, you could virtually hang your hat on the South View Road side finishing third (a placing they achieved eight times in that period), and, when they didn't, fourth place was where they ended up in 2001, 2006 and 2013.

So what happened last season to cause an alarming drop of ten places and move Bierley from trophy contenders to a side that are at the wrong end of the table?

Cricket secretary Tony Bannister said: "Three of our better players – Gavin Hamilton, Kez Ahmed and Luke Jarvis – went on tour with the MCC and missed the first few weeks of the season, and we struggled to recover.

"Also Gavin later had personal problems. We were worried about going down and only knew that we were safe in the penultimate match of the season.

"This year, with a more settled side, we were hoping for better things but we are again near the bottom.

"You don't want to go down any season but particularly not this one as it is our 150th."

Bierley's form has been fluctuating maddeningly, with victories over Pudsey St Lawrence, Pudsey Congs, Cleckheaton and Hanging Heaton interspersed with defeats against Saltaire, Lightcliffe, Undercliffe and Farsley.

Bannister added: "We took St Lawrence's unbeaten record and then we go and lose against Saltaire – no disrespect to them. I can't explain it."

Although Dan Shuffe's boys still have Undercliffe and Farsley to face at South View Road and Lightcliffe to meet at Wakefield Road, life doesn't get any easier tomorrow as they host Woodlands.

St Lawrence are at Hanging Heaton in the match of the day, while Cleckheaton are at Undercliffe.

Of the other relegation candidates, Farsley host Bingley, Lightcliffe are at Congs and Saltaire entertain New Farnley.

It is a double weekend in the Second Division, and the top four meet tomorrow, with third-placed Baildon at home to second-placed Scholes and leaders Morley at home to Bowling Old Lane.

* East Bierley are hosting a 150th anniversary match on Sunday, August 2 (2pm) between the current side and a team of former players organised by Murphy Walwyn.

There will also be a race night, organised by the players, in the clubhouse the night before.

Bierley will be holding a celebratory dinner in November and will be producing a 150th anniversary calendar for 2016.