PUDSEY Congs scored a thrilling five-run win over Woodlands to lift themselves out of the relegation positions in The All Rounder Cricket Bradford Premier League Premier Division.

Joe Greaves proved to be their match-winner with a decisive spell of 4-35 as Woodlands lost wickets and momentum after an opening stand of 107 between Sam Frankland (58) and skipper Tim Jackson (57) looked to have given them the perfect foundation to overhaul Congs' 203-8. Greaves also took a steepling catch to dismiss dangerman Sarfraz Ahmed.

Opener Callum Geldart was the key figure in Congs' innings with 65 while the bowling honours were shared for Woodlands by spinner Kez Ahmed (3-44) and Sarfraz (3-48).

East Bierley slipped into the bottom two after a 23-run defeat at third-placed Farsley.

South African opener James Price once again led from the front with a fine innings of 75, which helped Farsley to 224-9.

Danish Hussain (4-49) and Luke Jarvis (3-63) worked hard with the ball for East Bierley, who were bowled out for 201 in reply.

Farsley looked on course for a more emphatic win when they reduced their visitors to 97-6, but Bjorn Taylor hit a spirited 48 before Matthew Lumb (32) and Jarvis (32) shared a ninth-wicket stand of 51.

East Bierley have 126 points, the same total as Bradford & Bingley, but they have won one game fewer than the Wagon Lane side, who were bowled out for 102 by Morley.

Opening bowler Matthew Dowse (4-26) did the early damage before James McNichol mopped up the tail with 3-9. Opener Jack Edgar (43) played the only innings of note.

Despite the efforts of Yassir Abbas (3-44), Bradford & Bingley had insufficient runs on the board, and Morley eased to victory by six wickets. Matthew Baxter saw them home with an unbeaten 34.

Gary Fellows and Nick Connolly confirmed their status as the league's most prolific opening partnership as they helped leaders Hanging Heaton to a nine-wicket win over Lightcliffe.

They shared a first-wicket stand of 131 – their fourth century partnership in 15 matches – which enabled their side to avenge an early-season defeat at Lightcliffe.

Fellows took his tally of league runs to 695 with a knock of 85, while Connolly finished unbeaten on 82 as Lightcliffe's score of 214 was chased down with 8.3 overs to spare.

Lightcliffe failed to capitalise on the determined efforts of their openers Alex Stead (84) and Ian Philliskirk (49). Stead had to retire hurt on 24 but later returned to play another good innings for his side.

Fellows, who started his cricketing career as a junior at Lightcliffe, took 4-43 with his medium pacers and was backed up by spinner Muhammed Rameez (3-57).

Mark Robertshaw's first league century of the season and an explosive innings from skipper James Smith helped second-placed Pudsey St Lawrence end their three-match losing streak with a 172-run win over bottom team Scholes.

Robertshaw, who has topped the league batting averages in each of the past two seasons, made an unbeaten 106 – his first century of the campaign.

The left-hander hit 13 fours, but the real fireworks were provided by Smith.

He blasted seven sixes and four fours while making 73 from just 42 balls, and that enabled his side to post a score of 281-5.

Scholes lost two wickets without a run on the board and were dismissed for 109. Leg-spinner Tom Hudson took 5-21 as St Lawrence wrapped up victory, Rizwan Ahmed top-scoring with 30 for Scholes.

Lee Goddard continued his purple patch for New Farnley by following up his unbeaten 151 in the previous week's win over East Bierley with a knock of 81 not out as he helped his side defeat Cleckheaton by six wickets.

Goddard was joined in a third-wicket stand of 122 by Mark Lawson as New Farnley recovered from the loss of two early wickets to pass Cleckheaton's 161 with 25 overs to spare.

James Lee's 59 was the highlight of a disappointing Cleckheaton innings in which they lost wickets regularly to the bowling of Mohammed Bilal (4-40) and James Middlebrook (3-7).