RETIRING Liversedge cricket chairman Allan Trevitt is confident his club are in a position to compete if they win promotion in the All Rounder Cricket Equipment Central Yorkshire League.

This is despite failing to pick up a point from the top-of-the-table Championship Division clash with Hopton Mills at Roberttown Lane.

Trevitt hopes to play a part in making Liversedge's ambitions happen and explained: "I think we are better placed financially and have a younger set of players coming through.

"Although I am in my last year as cricket chairman, I shall probably be responsible for putting next season's side together and I will otherwise be there just to help my successor settle into the job."

Although still leading the table by a point, going into a tough game at Wakefield St Michaels tomorrow, Trevitt added: "I'm not sure we will make the top two this season but I am confident we will make the top four.

"But there are seven teams in the promotion frame at the moment."

Injuries and holidays left Liversedge a little short against second-placed Hopton Mills and the visitors' opener Neil Browne (106) and Chris Scott (91no) made them suffer with a fine century stand for the second wicket.

The hosts never looked like catching Mills' 295-4 and were left with the last pair, both juniors, hanging on at the end to reach 145-9 and deny their rivals maximum points.

Matt Butler returned from injury to make a top-scoring 47 but aggravated his hamstring in the process and is again missing for the trip to Wakefield.

With only nine points separating seven teams at the top, this looks like being one title race that is going to run and run.

In the Premier Division, Buttershaw St Paul's' defeat at home Hunslet Nelson was their seventh in a row.

A visit this week to a Birstall side who have lost five out of their last six is likely to give a confidence boost to one of them – even if Buttershaw's top-flight survival hopes are sinking fast.

That two-wicket defeat at the hands of Hunslet Nelson, despite another fine performance from young Kevin McDermott (62), left Buttershaw bottom of the Premier Division table 13 points from safety.

Meanwhile, Birstall's slump has left them 17 points ahead of second-bottom Altofts.

Methley, Townville, Wakefield Thornes and Wrenthorpe are still out in front at the summit, while Mirfield Parish Cavaliers are at home to Ossett and Batley are at Carlton in mid-table encounters tomorrow.