IT WAS a dramatic weekend in the Bradford Premier League Premier Division, with Woodlands taking over at the top.

They defeated Bankfoot by 94 runs to capitalise on New Farnley suffering their second successive defeat, who this time went down by nine runs at Pudsey St Lawrence.

Woodlands lead the way by seven points ahead on this Saturday’s huge match at New Farnley.

Cleckheaton kept alive their hopes of avoiding relegation, with Yousaf Baber making 190 not out as they defeated Hanging Heaton by seven wickets.

Baber was one of five century makers. Liam Collins (Woodlands), Jason Marshall (Methley), Harry Warwick (Townville) and Corey Miller (Bradford & Bingley) were the others.

Patient batting from Mark Robertshaw (65) and fine work by spinners Chris Marsden (4-56), and Archie Scott (3-36) enabled St Lawrence to put a huge dent in New Farnley’s title ambitions.

Once again, New Farnley faltered when batting second. Opener Aidan Langley (37) was their top scorer, but nobody was able to dominate the Pudsey St Lawrence spinners and wickets fell at regular intervals.

The value of Robertshaw’s runs, plus 31 from Harry Cullingford in a total of 184-8, became clear when New Farnley began to struggle.

Paceman Dan Houghton (3-37) was the best of the visiting bowlers, but this was another afternoon when the title hopefuls faltered when they came under pressure.

Liam Collins hit a century and skipper Brad Schmulian picked up 5-28 as champions Woodlands recovered from a shaky start to defeat Bankfoot by 94 runs.

Collins arrived at the wicket with his team struggling at 16-3 but he soon changed the course of the game in a stand of 107 with Tim Jackson (49).

Collins hit three sixes and 12 fours in his 103 as Woodlands made 269-7.

It was a total that was beyond the reach of Bankfoot as they were dismissed for 175.

Overseas player Zia Ul-Haq Parwani top scored with 68 but lacked support as Schmulian and Elliot Richardson (3-35) helped bowl them out for 175, taking Woodlands top of the table.

Yousaf Baber hit the highest Premier Division individual score of the season as he powered Cleckheaton to a seven-wicket win, which keeps alive their hopes of avoiding relegation.

The talented Pakistani batsman struck nine sixes and 21 fours while making an unbeaten 190 which enabled his side to chase down Hanging Heaton’s score of 296.

He was joined in an unbeaten fourth wicket stand of 209 by skipper Mally Nicholson (64)

Ben Kohler-Cadmore (59), Callum Geldart (58) and Sasith Manuranga (50) all hit half centuries for Hanging Heaton, but their efforts were put in the shade by Baber.

Cleckheaton are 29 points adrift of Bankfoot with three games to play, but this result could be the springboard for a great escape.

Harry Warwick (116no) and Jack Hughes (67no) shared an unbroken fourth wicket stand of 199 as Townville cruised to a seven-wicket win over Methley.

Farsley virtually banished lingering fears of being dragged into the relegation battle with a comprehensive nine-wicket win over enigmatic Ossett.

Australian batsman Corey Miller and seamer Jack Luxton were the outstanding performers as Bradford & Bingley cruised to a 252-run win over Batley.

Miller’s 144 was the key ingredient in his side’s total of 328-6. He struck a six and 20 fours as he showed again what a good acquisition he has been.

Yorkshire’s Will Luxton (74) joined him in a second wicket partnership worth 112, while skipper Ed Brown (42no) and Charlie Davy (31) helped swell the total.

Umar Farooq (3-55) was the best of the visiting bowlers.

Batley struggled badly against the bowling of Luxton (7-42), with Kasir Maroof’s 49 saving them from an even lower score than the 76 they were dismissed for.

Pudsey Congs showed no mercy to already-relegated Wrenthorpe, as they romped to a 213-run win which enabled them to climb above Carlton into second place in the Division One table.

Leaders Jer Lane returned to winning ways after two defeats with an 88-run win over Carlton.

All-rounder Cosmond Walters was the star of the show with 115 and 5-46.

Walters, who hit three sixes and 16 fours, shared a fourth wicket stand of 162 with opener Mehrban Khan (96) as Jer Lane posted a score of 318-6.

Big-hitting Farrouk Alam responded with 108 for Carlton, peppering the boundaries to record eight sixes and 10 fours, but Nick Busby (39) was the only batsman able to provide support as Carlton were bowled out for 230.

Nisar Ahmad (5-56) and Daniel Cross (4-40) bowled East Bierley to a 90-run win over inconsistent Undercliffe.

The home side were dismissed for 132 as they replied to East Bierley’s 222, which featured 70 from opener Sam Gatenby.

Danish Hussain (4-67) and Sunny Matharu (4-50) posed the main threat with the ball for Undercliffe.

East Ardsley kept alive their hopes of avoiding relegation with an eight-wicket win over Birstall, while Gomersal defeated lowly Morley by 99 runs at Scatcherd Lane.

Opener James Ford hit an unbeaten 114 as Baildon chased down a Keighley score of 230-6 to record a seven-wicket win.

Ford struck 15 fours and was joined in an opening stand of 100 by Kevin McDermott (51). Skipper Dwayne Heke (36) helped complete the successful run chase.

Skipper Scott Etherington (72), Ben Hemsley (51) and Nathan Storton (56no) were the main contributors in the Keighley innings as Abdullah Khan (3-81) proved to be the most successful bowler for Baildon.

Sandal retained their position at the top of the Division Two table with a 155-run win over a Crossflatts side still flirting with relegation.

Wasim Hussain (4-77) and Ruan Van Rooyen (3-79) helped restrict Sandal to 266-9, but Crossflatts' chase was poor, and they were dismissed for only 111.

Second-placed side Yeadon also won, as they overcame Hopton Mills by 29 runs.

Great Preston closed to within seven points of 10th-placed Crossflatts, as they raised their hopes of avoiding relegation with a 68-run win at Buttershaw St Paul's.

Oli Baron (64), Jamie Willis (46), Danny Harwood (41) and Ben Wilkinson (35no) steered the visitors to a total of 287, as Zafar Jadoon (3-92) and, Amer Ayoub (3-46) proved to be the best of the St Paul’s bowlers.

Ayoub struck 16 fours while making 100 for St Paul’s and shared a stand of 136 for the third wicket with Jonathan Burston (55).

But then the innings petered out against Stuart Ruddick (4-66) and James Conlon (3-55).

Bottom team Wakefield St Michael’s showed that they have not given up the fight with a 16-run win over Bowling Old Lane.

Chris McHale (46), Joe Finnigan (35), and Myles Wood (32) helped them make 200-9, as Abdulla Ijaz picked up 3-21.

Despite the contributions of Zahir Shah (45) and Shahzaib Khan (41), Old Lane were dismissed for 184 in reply, with Finnigan taking 3-54.

Old Lane bounced back from Saturday's defeat with a four-wicket win in their re-arranged game at Buttershaw yesterday.

Farhan Hussain (77) and Shahzaib Khan (46) helped them chase down a St Paul's score of 190.

Jack Wakeling (57) and Zafar Jadoon (30) top scored for the home side as Hazrat Abbas (4-31) and Gurdev Singh (3-51) took the bowling honours.

Alex Stead fuelled Lightcliffe’s late push for promotion with a fine innings of 129, which enabled his side to overhaul a Northowram Fields score of 256-8 to win by five wickets.

Hunslet Nelson overhauled Hartshead Moor’s score of 254-8 to record a gripping two-wicket win at Highmoor Lane.

Heckmondwike & Carlinghow leapfrogged over Scholes into second place in Division Three after defeating them by five wickets on Saturday.

And H&C strengthened their hold on second place with a three-wicket win over Spen Victoria yesterday.

Bryson Nicholls made 106, an innings laced with 10 fours, as leaders Liversedge closed in on promotion with a 112-run win at Spen Victoria.

Nicholls added 140 for the third wicket with Shoaib Rehman (89) in a total of 277-6.

Despite the knocks of Rahat Shah (66) and Paolo Girardi (47no), Spen were dismissed for 165, with Parvaise Khan (5-65) and Mohammad Altaf (3-25) securing their side’s 17th win in 18 games.

Asif Amir (5-16) helped Brighouse bowl out East Leeds for 155 as they eased to a seven-wicket win.

Sohail Akram (51no) and Gul Hussain (34) guided them to their modest target.

East Leeds quickly bounced back on Sunday, as they made 251 in their 135-run win over Crossbank Methodists.

It was a bad weekend for Crossbank, as they suffered an even bigger defeat on Saturday.

Gildersome & Farnley Hill took just 10.2 overs to pass the Methodists’ total of 145 and secure a nine-wicket win.

Altofts stayed in the hunt for promotion as they chased down an Adwalton score of 213-7 to win by three wickets.

Skipper Bailey Wilson (91) led the way as Rodley recorded a 127-run win over visiting Windhill & Daisy Hill.

Rob Young (65no), Gary Sagar (33) and Jacques Moss (30) gave him support as Shoaib Iqbal picked up 3-60 for the away side.

Rodley’s total of 281-5 proved too many for Windhill & Daisy Hill, despite opener Khalid Mehmood (58no) carrying his bat, as his side were bowled out for 154, James Bradbury taking 3-11.