by David Markham

PUDSEY St Lawrence are within sight of their first Bradford League Division One title since 1991.

They are 14 points clear at the top after their 103-run home win against Undercliffe while their nearest rivals Woodlands went down by one wicket at home to Pudsey Congs.

St Lawrence need seven points from their final match of the season away to defending champions Cleckheaton next Saturday to take the crown.

Opener Mark Robertshaw played a key role in their win over Undercliffe, scoring 116 to take his season’s tally to 997 and help his side to make 269-4 after being put into bat.

Robertshaw shared in an opening stand of 202 with Adam Waite, who was run out four short of his century.

Undercliffe, who are trying to avoid relegation, were bowled out for 166 with Adnan Raja top scorer with 53.

Woodlands’ hopes of the title took a serious knock with their narrow defeat against Congs. They collapsed from 130-2 to 187 all out with no one able to build on the good work of Logan Weston (54) and stand-in opener, Greg Finn (49) as off spinner Kez Ahmed took 7-53.

Callum Geldart and Nick Lindley gave Congs a good start with a first wicket stand of 51 before the league’s leading wicket taker, slow left-arm bowler Chris Brice reduced them to 125-7. Joe Greaves (63) led a revival before he became Brice’s sixth victim with 16 still needed, but the young last-wicket pair, Josh Holling and Mustafa Rafique guided them home with two overs to spare.

Cleckheaton are four points behind Woodlands and 18 adrift of St Lawrence after beating bottom club Saltaire at Roberts Park by five wickets – a result that condemns Saltaire to relegation. The home side were bowled out for 151 after losing their last six wickets for 38 runs with spinners Tanzeel Altaf taking 4-61 and Andrew Deegan (3-26).

Cleckheaton were faltering at 48-4, but former Saltaire opener Tim Jackson stood firm with 35 not out and received good support from James Lee (37) and Altaf (35no) to see them home.

Farsley must win their last game at home to New Farnley to have any chance of avoiding relegation after their rain-affected match at Hanging Heaton.

Opener Nick Connolly hit his fifth century of the season to help the home side reach 281-5, taking his tally 911 and sharing a second-wicket stand of 143 with former Farsley skipper Ian Philliskirk (95) and a third-wicket partnership 107 with Ben Eldvidge (51). Farsley replied with 196-9 with Gary Fellows taking 6-59.

Bradford & Bingley owed their 133-run win at East Bierley to two players, Chris Thompson and slow left-arm bowler Noman Ali. Bingley had slid to 37-5 when Thompson took charge, hitting eight sixes and 11 fours in his 121 to help Bingley make 238. Ali then took 8-38 as Bierley were bowled out for 105.

Lightcliffe went down by 59 runs in a high scoring game at New Farnley. A fifth-wicket stand of 156 between Nick Walker (93) and Lee Goddard (91) enabled New Farnley to recover from 80-4 to 288-7. Overseas player Suleman Khan then top scored with 63 as Lightcliffe replied with 229-8.

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