Nick Whitehill, who was discarded by Woodlands at the end of last season because of a lack of runs, came back to haunt them in the first round of the Heavy Woollen Cup.

He scored an unbeaten 56 for his new club Hanging Heaton as they defeated the 2004 winners and 2005 runners-up by seven wickets.

Woodlands' league representative Phil Godfrey said: "Nick batted against us in

a manner in which he didn't do for Woodlands, particularly last year.

"But he proved what we all know - that he has the potential to be a very good

player."

Woodlands were dismissed for 176 at Bennett Lane, a vast proportion of which came from Nicky Rushworth (84) and skipper Tim Orrell (55).

Godfrey said: "We never really recovered from being seven for three and limped along to being all out from 107 for three, but Nicky Rushworth again proved what a capable No 5 he is."

Apart from Whitehill, Chris Schofield (53) was also in form with the bat for Hanging Heaton, who avenged their six-wicket league defeat of the previous day.

Bankfoot, relegated from the First Division last season, have had a difficult winter in terms of retaining their players but gave themselves a marvellous fillip with a three-run success over Doncaster Town.

Both teams made good starts at Cleckheaton Road, only to falter. Mal Nicholson (35), Simon Curry (52), new skipper Micky Hutchins (64) and Neil Nicholson (46 not out) helped Bankfoot to 170 for two before they finished on 227 for seven.

Doncaster were looking good at 190 for two but medium-pacer Simon Wilson, a close-season signing from Queensbury, pegged them back with four for 40 and left-arm spinner Andy Stothart bowled his ten overs at a cost of only 22 runs.

Town needed six off the final over but Wilson took wickets with his first two balls and the South Yorkshire team could only finish on 224 for eight.

Great Horton gave Bradford League Division Two a further boost with a superb two-wicket victory at Methley in a game that was switched to the Central Yorkshire League club's ground because of the wet state of Ewart Street.

Pace bowler Rizwan Ahmed, Great Horton's overseas player, had only flown in at 6am on the day of the match but looked nippy in taking two for 45 in Methley's 245 all out.

Leg-spinner Mohammed Sharafaz also impressed with two for 40 after the hosts, aided by a couple of dropped catches, had rattled up 50 in the first six overs on what was a good wicket.

Great Horton's teenage opening bat Aftab Ahmed then made 82 and No 3 Mohammad Altaf weighed in with 48 as the visitors won with two overs to spare.

Farsley were seen to a seven-wicket win at home over under-strength Keighley by Ashley Metcalfe (62 not out) and Zahid Iqbal (39 not out), Alex Blakeborough

having earlier made 48.

Callum Braddock took three for 17 off his allotted ten overs in Keighley's 207 for seven, Chris Henry taking two outstanding catches.

Gomersal also kept the lower section's banner flying with a two-wicket win at home to Rockingham, Bradley Drake taking five for 13 and Rob Burton scoring 41.

New-look Brighouse gave a solid all-round performance to beat knockout specialists Manningham Mills by 18 runs in the third all-Bradford League clash.

Saltaire, for whom Sarfaraaz Mahomed continued his fine start with 98, defeated Shepley by 110 runs, while Idle, with Dinusha Fernando making an unbeaten 55, squeezed past Liversedge by ten runs.

East Bierley also progressed but there were defeats for Morley, Yeadon, Spen Victoria, Jer Lane and Buttershaw St Paul's.