East Bierley took advantage of Bradford & Bingley’s free week to take over from them at the top of the JCT600 Bradford League First Division table for the first time this season after beating Saltaire by 99 runs yesterday.

The maximum 20 points they earned from their victory puts them ten points ahead of Baildon, who beat Gomersal by 80 runs, with third-placed Bingley a further one point behind.

Bierley, without key players Gharib Razak and Kez Ahmed, were indebted to second-team captain Matthew Anderson, who was top scorer with an unbeaten 66. They were struggling at 138 for seven when Anderson came to the wicket, but he transformed the innings, striking four sixes and eight fours as he guided them to maximum batting points on 225 for nine. Lee Goddard (44) and Steve Simpson (41) were the pick of the earlier batsmen.

Saltaire never seriously threatened Bierley’s total and were all out for 126, with skipper Paul Hutchison taking three for 31 and overseas player Mohammad Azhar-Ullah three for 40.

Ashan Butt and Andy Walker were match-winners as Baildon beat hosts Gomersal by 80 runs and moved into second place as they leapfrogged Bingley.

Butt held the Baildon innings together with 55 as they reached 151 all out. Gomersal had no answer to Baildon’s pace attack as they were bowled out for a disappointing 71, with left-armer Walker taking five for 29 and Craig Hitchenor three for 39.

Fourth-placed Pudsey St Lawrence are three points behind Bingley after beating neighbours Farsley by seven wickets.

Left-arm pace bowler Gary Severn took five for 46 as they bowled out Farsley for 167. Mark Robertshaw, with 66 not out, and Gareth Clough (57) then led St Lawrence to victory with Chris Henry (3-42) taking all the wickets to fall.

Pudsey Congs beat Yeadon by seven wickets after bowling out the visitors for 127, with overseas pace bowler Mohammed Naveed taking three for 23 and Yorkshire’s Richard Pyrah three for 35.

Pyrah then hit 16 fours in his 68 as Congs cruised to victory in 20.5 overs.

Hanging Heaton moved off the bottom of the table for the first time this season after beating fellow strugglers Manningham Mills by 15 runs.

The result leaves Mills bottom with 100 points, three behind Hanging Heaton, who recovered from a bad start to reach 223 for eight thanks to skipper Alan Mynett, who made 72, and former Mills player Amar Rashid 69.

Skipper Amjid Hussain made a defiant 54, but Mills fell short of their victory target on 208 for nine.

The top two clubs in the Second Division, Bankfoot and Undercliffe, both gained maximum points from their wins.

Leaders Bankfoot owed much to a fine all-round performance from Edward Walmsley for their 108-run home victory over Brighouse.

He top-scored with 87 in their total of 245 for six before taking four for 38 as Brighouse were dismissed for 137.

Yorkshire batsman Chris Taylor made 109 not out and Ben Heritage 73 as Undercliffe declared on 225 for four with two overs left to set up a 75-run win over Morley.

They then bowled them out for 150 with Nawaz Sardar taking four for 32 and Chris Greenwood three for 28.