PUDSEY St Lawrence took a big step towards a third All Rounder Cricket Bradford Premier League Premier Division title in four seasons by beating New Farnley by 46 runs in a top-of-the-table clash.
But Methley's brave bid to win the championship in their debut season in the top flight was effectively ended by a 31-run defeat against defending champions Hanging Heaton.
It means that with two games to go, St Lawrence have 330 points and, New Farnley 317.
Ironically, Methley will still have a big say in the destiny of the title as they visit New Farnley next week before hosting St Lawrence in their final game.
Bowlers were on top at Tofts Road, where the New Farnley opening attack of Alex Lilley (3-36) and Andrew Brewster (3-46) made early inroads.
Only a battling 32 from skipper Chris Marsden pushed the Saints total up to 153 – a score that their bowlers managed to defend.
Yorkshire's Jordan Thompson took out three top-order batsmen as he returned 3-36, and the most significant of his victims was New Farnley skipper Lee Goddard, who top scored with 32.
St Lawrence's win was secured when left-armer Charlie Parker produced a decisive spell of 4-26.
Hanging Heaton may have been without a number of regulars at Methley, but one thing that was certainly not missing was their fighting spirit.
For much of the afternoon, Methley looked the most likely winners.
Their bowlers made Hanging Heaton work hard for their total of 202, with Ismail Dawood (56) and Nick Connolly (49) being forced to graft for their runs, and only Aqsad Ali, with a breezy 32, batted with any freedom.
Skipper Grant Soames was the most successful bowler with 4-36.
Openers Marcus Walmsley (53) and Adil Islam (42) laid a great foundation for their side, but their colleagues were unable to build on it.
Spinner Callum Geldart (6-39) and paceman David Stiff (3-51) sent them tumbling to 171 all out.
Big-hitting Yorkshire opener Tom Kohler-Cadmore hit his first Bradford Premier League century to power Cleckheaton to a five-wicket win over East Bierley.
He peppered the boundary with seven sixes and 18 fours as he made 127 from just 85 balls.
Opener Toby Thorpe made a more sedate 54 during a third-wicket stand of 189 as East Bierley's score of 214 was overhauled.
The highlight of the East Bierley innings was provided by No 9 batsman Taufeeq Ahmed, who top scored with 64 after Josh Thurwell picked up 3-53.
Woodlands and Farsley both warmed up for the Priestley Cup final with wins.
Woodlands brushed aside bottom team Scholes by nine wickets, while Farsley had to work much harder for their two-wicket win at Bradford & Bingley.
The Woodlands spin twins Kez Ahmed (5-21) and Chris Brice (5-42) bowled out their weakened opponents for 115.
Woodlands then cruised to their target, with skipper Tim Jackson (57no) and Sam Frankland (44no) sharing an unbroken second-wicket stand of 104.
Yorkshire's James Logan was the match winner for Farsley.
He made an unbeaten 94, which enabled his side to recover from an uncertain start to chase down Bradford & Bingley's 212-8.
Logan struck five sixes and eight fours to see his side home with eight balls to spare.
The highlight of the Bradford & Bingley innings was a fourth-wicket stand of 117 between Joe Halstead (67) and Kyme Tahirkeli (47).
The tireless Chris Henry took 4-57 for Farsley.
Townville skipper Conor Harvey took his season's tally of league wickets to 49 with a haul of 6-27 as Lightcliffe were bowled out for just 68, with Richie Bresnan (4-37) taking the remaining wickets.
Opener Jonathan Booth (31) ensured that his side got home with four wickets down.
Suleman Khan picked up 3-45 with his left-arm spin.
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