CLECKHEATON spoiled Woodlands’ title-winning celebrations by inflicting an 11-run defeat on them just hours after skipper Cieran Garner received the All Rounder Cricket Bradford Premier League championship trophy.

Spinners Azeem Rafiq (4-46) and Andrew Deegan (3-55) thwarted former Cleckheaton opener Tim Jackson’s bid to win the game for Woodlands. He made 84 but lacked effective support as his side finished on 212-9.

The champions were left to rue the 53 extras – 26 were wides – which helped swell the Cleckheaton score to 223-9 when they batted first. Nick Lindley and Rafiq both made 42 as the Woodlands spin duo of Chris Brice (4-41) and Kez Ahmed (3-51) posed the main threat.

Bradford & Bingley’s hopes of finishing runners up suffered a body blow as they suffered a six-wicket defeat at the hands of Townville, who are now favourites to finish runners-up.

The victory was Townville’s seventh in their last nine matches and skipper Jack Hughes now heads the Premier Division bowling averages after taking 4-12 as Bradford & Bingley were bowled out for just 104. Overseas player Imran Rafique (32no) steered Townville home.

Lightcliffe’s stay in the top-flight was ended when they suffered a seven-wicket defeat against Methley, but who joins them in Championship One next season is still to be decided.

Methley made it five wins in a row to all but banish their relegation fears. All-rounder Marcus Walmsley took 6-30 as Lightcliffe were dismissed for 152. Walmsley followed up with 55 as he and Yorkshire’s Matthew Waite (33no) guided their side to victory.

Nobody has been battling harder to keep Undercliffe up than opener Simon Lambert. His 116, which included a six and 15 fours, made him the Premier Division’s top runscorer with 690 and took him to the top of the averages on 49.3.

Skipper Scott Etherington (34) shared a first-wicket stand of 108 with Lambert as Undercliffe replied to a Hanging Heaton score of 249-9. The openers gave their side a good foundation, but the pressure to score quickly led to wickets falling and Undercliffe were eventually dismissed for 228 to lose by 21 runs.

David Stiff (4-33) and Callum Bethel (3-55) were the best of the bowlers for Hanging Heaton as they defended their challenging total which had been built around the contributions of James Keen (63), Joe Fraser (47) and Callum Geldart (40). Spinner Khalid Usman (4-87) and Lambert (3-38) were the most successful members of the Undercliffe attack.

Pudsey St Lawrence’s young all-rounder Archie Scott (55) made his highest score of the season as he helped his side to scrape home by three wickets in the final over at Wrenthorpe.

Barrie Frankland (37) and James Smith (30no) also made timely contributions as the Saints overhauled the Wrenthorpe score of 228-9.

Smith took his career tally of Bradford League runs past the 12,000 mark – he now has 12,022 – as he saw his side home despite another good spell of spin bowling from Khalil Khan (4-27).

Luke Patel (49) and Khan helped Wrenthorpe to a healthy looking 125-3 before a clatter of wickets saw their side slip to 160-7 as St Lawrence skipper Chris Marsden picked up 4-55.

Sam Wigglesworth showed great fight as he struck three sixes and five fours in an unbeaten 50.

New Farnley’s top three batsmen were in good form in their 84-run win over Farsley. Adam Waite (9) and skipper Lee Goddard (59) got their side’s innings off to a good start with a stand of 99.

That was followed by a second-wicket partnership of 143 between Waite and Steve Bullen (81) which helped push New Farnley towards their eventual total of 268-9.

Chris Beech (4-50) and skipper Matthew Lumb (3-50) toiled away for Farsley with the ball before becoming the two top scorers in their side’s reply of 184.

Beech led the way with 73 while Lumb scored 35. Pace bowlers Alex Lilley (4-38) and Andrew Brewster (4-34) helped seal New Farnley’s victory.