PUDSEY St Lawrence were crowned champions for the third time in four seasons after a rain-hit final day to the Bradford Premier League Premier Division season.

Their match at Methley was one of five to be abandoned without any play possible. The one exception was second-placed New Farnley’s match at Bradford & Bingley.

They needed 17 points to pip St Lawrence for top spot, but only managed 13 in a game reduced to 26 overs per side.

New Farnley made 156-8, with Yorkshire Academy player Billy Whitford hitting 35. Young spinner Bradley Reeve starred for Bingley with 3-22.

The visitors knew they needed all 10 wickets to take the title outright, while Bradford & Bingley had a Duckworth-Lewis adjusted target of 143 to win.

The hosts remained in control throughout, with opener Jack Edgar leading the way with an unbeaten 55 as his side finished on 99-2.

When news filtered through to the Pudsey St Lawrence players that they had won the title by three points, the celebrations started.

The proudest man was their skipper Chris Marsden, who has guided them to the championship in his first season in charge.

He said: “I am so proud of all the players. All the hard work we have put in has paid off and it is great to play alongside such a great bunch of lads.

“Three titles in four years is reward for all the effort that the club has put in over the last 10-15 years to build up our junior set up and bring players through.”

One of the stars of the title triumph has been opener Mark Robertshaw. He finished the season with 1,079 runs, just 26 runs short of Arnold Hamer’s club record tally in the league.

Marsden enthused: “Mark Robertshaw has been awesome for us this season. The weekend when he scored 162 not out in our win at Hanging Heaton and struck 126 against Bradford & Bingley the following day showed his class.

“Our three seamers Charlie Parker, Jordan Thompson and Richie Lamb took vital wickets throughout the season, and Charlie even won two games for us with the bat.

“Our spinners also came up with key performances, but it was the way we stood up as a team that was so important.

“We came through in close games and also scored two crucial wins over Hanging Heaton and New Farnley on the final run in.”

Marsden's team now have their sights on the Yorkshire Premier League play-offs. They play the North Yorkshire South Durham League side Great Ayton at Scarborough next Saturday.

He said: “We won a close game with Great Ayton in the 2016 semi-finals and we want to repeat that success and go on to play in the final at Headingley.”