THE battle for silverware at the top of Division One and Two in the JCT600 Bradford League is hard fought.

But arguably the struggle for survival in Division One is even more intense, with only 13 points separating second-from-bottom Farsley and fifth-from-bottom East Bierley.

Saltaire are a tad off the pace on 80 points, followed by Farsley (105), Undercliffe (107), Lightcliffe (108) and East Bierley (116) and, with nine weeks of the top-flight season left, there are still seven head-to-heads involving sides from the bottom five.

However, despite clubs at the wrong end of the table picking up five victories against clubs in the top seven over the past three weeks, Undercliffe skipper Michael Kelsey does not see anyone else being dragged into the relegation zone.

He said: "Pudsey Congs are too good and too far ahead (138 points) to be pulled back, so it is between us five.

"Two or three weeks ago, I might have said that Saltaire were in trouble but they have picked up victories over Farsley and East Bierley recently."

Lightcliffe (over Bradford & Bingley), East Bierley (Pudsey St Lawrence and Pudsey Congs), Farsley (New Farnley) and Undercliffe (Hanging Heaton) are others to have upset the apple cart, pointing out the competitiveness of the division, but Kelsey said of his Division Two champions: "We knew we were never going to be in mid-table or in the top half.

"We still have Lightcliffe, East Bierley and Saltaire to visit but the clubs that are going to stay up must also win the odd one against clubs other than those in and around them."

Kelsey describes his Intake Road side as more of a batting unit than a bowling unit, and no-one has exemplified that more than Gulsheraz Ahmed.

He scored 59 in the victory over Farsley, 42 in the win over Saltaire, 50 in the defeat of East Bierley and 93 and 58 in the losses to Congs and 66 in the setback to Cleckheaton.

Kelsey added: "Gulsheraz has been superb, whereas there has been no stand-out bowler as our wickets tend to have been shared around."

Tomorrow, the bottom five all have tough matches. Undercliffe are at home to Bradford & Bingley, Saltaire host second-placed Woodlands, Farsley visit Congs, Lightcliffe are at Cleckheaton and East Bierley are at third-placed Hanging Heaton.

Leaders Pudsey St Lawrence are at New Farnley. Division Two front-runners Morley are at Bankfoot, while second-placed Scholes host rock-bottom Idle.