Resurgent Farsley will be without pace bowler Robert Thornton for the rest of the season.

The 23-year-old has had an operation on a minor skull fracture after being injured fielding against Pudsey St Lawrence on Saturday, May 26.

Thornton was postioned at deep mid-off late in Saints' innings when the ball reared up off the turf, went through his hands and hit him above the bridge of the nose.

Initially, apart from a headache, the damage did not seem too great - indeed Thornton was disappointed not to play on the Bank Holiday Monday at home to Idle - but former Yorkshire player Ashley Metcalfe suggested that the opening bowler had his injury checked out.

Thornton's dad Nigel, who is Farsley's secretary, said: "Robert blew his nose and it brought an eye up, so he went to Leeds General Infirmary to have the swelling looked at.

"The Chinese professor there diagnosed a minor fracture and Robert has been cut from ear to ear, had his skin lifted up and had a titanium plate inserted in an operation on Wednesday of last week.

"Then his face was replaced. Robert is bored but he has had to go back into hospital as he caught the trots' while he was in there!"

Thornton apart, Farsley are also without leg-spinning all-rounder Steve Lawrence, who fractured a finger at Manningham Mills two weeks ago.

But, despite these setbacks, the Rams have won three successive league games for the first time since halfway through the 2004 season.

From being 13 points adrift of safety on June 2, Farsley are now 17 points above the drop zone after victories over Mills, Bradford & Bingley and Hanging Heaton.

Bowling Old Lane and Hanging Heaton are now in the relegation places, and Farsley entertain Old Lane on Saturday in a match Nigel Thornton says "we must win".

Match of the day, however, is that between St Lawrence, who have dropped to fifth, and leaders Woodlands at Tofts Road.

Second-placed East Bierley, who are at home to Hanging Heaton, will be hoping that Saints do them a favour.