9:38pm Tuesday 7th July 2009
By Sports Desk
Rob McFarlane duly completed 1,000 runs, in all competitions, for Birstall this season when he hit a top-scoring 21 in a key Solly Sports Central Yorkshire League Premier Division clash at home to Townville.
It was poor consolation, however, as the reigning champions crashed to a seven-wicket defeat that leaves them well adrift of new leaders Wrenthorpe.
Skipper John Carruthers anticipated a tough game and so it proved as Brad Cachopa (62) and 14-year-old Jonathan Booth (29) put on a match-winning unbroken 96-run stand for Townville to keep them in the title hunt and leave Birstall with much to do.
Former Pudsey-based Bradford League players Neill Gill (Congs) took six for 14 while Gary Fellows (St Lawrence) hit 36 and David Paynter (Congs) made 30 as Wrenthorpe beat Altofts, while Methley are a point behind after their win at Ossett.
Liversedge skipper Simon Purdy was in fine form with the ball, picking up six for 45 with his left-arm spin at Batley, but he could not save his side from a two-wicket defeat after they had managed to total just 100 in the first innings.
Mirfield Parish remain in relegation trouble after an 85-run defeat at Northowram, while in Division One Buttershaw St Paul's are in second place, five points behind Wakefield St Michaels, after a comfortable seven-wicket win at Hopton Mills.
© Copyright 2001-2012 Newsquest Media Group
http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/trade_directory/