NEW Farnley may have the upper hand at the moment, but Methley skipper Grant Soames knows that there could be many twists and turns in the last seven weeks of the All Rounder Cricket Bradford Premier League season.

For instance, there are eight matches left which involve teams facing each other from the current top five of the Premier Division, with Methley incredibly finishing off with matches against the top four.

Having come up last season, Soames said: "We are quite pleased to be in fifth place on 195 points.

"Marcus Walmsley has shone with bat and ball but generally speaking it has been a real team effort, and that is why we have three or four bowlers with 30-plus wickets and three or four batsmen with more than 400 runs.

"We got to the Priestley Cup final last season and reached the semi-finals of the Heavy Woollen Cup and the finals of the JW Lees Brewery Twenty20 this season.

"Next season, with the addition of one or two players, we would like to think that we will be pushing into the top four, although that won't be easy."

Soames said of the title race: "New Farnley (233 points) have the edge, but Farsley (222) are going well and you can't rule out Pudsey St Lawrence (217) or Hanging Heaton (212)."

Methley finish off at Farsley (August 18), at home to Hanging Heaton (August 25), at New Farnley (September 1) and at home to Saints (September 8) so, as Soames said: "We will have an influence on the title race."

More immediately, Hanging Heaton host Farsley tomorrow, while Woodlands, one of Soames' former clubs, visit Methley.

He said: "You always look for the fixtures against your former clubs, and Woodlands (who are a place below Methley) are a team in transition, but with Brian Pearson and Chris Brice involved you wouldn't back against them.

"We are far enough ahead of them (22 points) not to be caught by them whatever happens tomorrow, but if we beat them it will put more daylight between us."

New Farnley also have to face Hanging Heaton and Methley at home and Pudsey St Lawrence away, while Farsley have to visit Saints.

At the bottom tomorrow, Bradford & Bingley (home to Cleckheaton) and Scholes (home to Lightcliffe) have winnable matches, but basement boys East Bierley have a stiffer task at St Lawrence.

In Championship Division One, leaders Undercliffe are at cellar dwellers Yeadon.