Bowlers on the ball as Farsley hit back to defeat Pudsey St Lawrence

Farsley’s total owed much to Jonathan Read (25) and Dan Revis (21) while Charlie Parker (5-27) and Archie Scott (3-16) did the damage with the ball for the visitors.

However, Pudsey St Lawrence’s much-vaunted batting failed in reply as they were skittled for 73, with Barrie Frankland (34) and No 11 Joshua Dracup (14no) the two players in double figures as Henry Barrow took 7-36 and Mathew Lumb 3-37.

After a six-week period in which they have faced the five teams closest to them in the top half of the Premier Division, Woodlands find themselves neck and neck with a rival.

Townville drew level with the defending champions on 173 points at the head of affairs after beating them by four wickets at Albert Terrace.

Woodlands opted to bat but only overseas player Brad Schmulian (68) could make a substantial score in their 188-8, with left-arm spinner Jack Hughes taking 5-52, backed up by some determined fielding.

Townville slumped to 19-3 in reply, with Schmulian taking all three wickets after opening the bowling, but were put back on track by Hughes (31) and Harry Warwick (41).

However, the result was in doubt again when the visitors were 124-6 before they were seen home with 21 balls to spare by an unbroken stand of 70 between James Glynn (29no) and Conor Harvey (45no).

New Farnley are 12 points back in third after disposing of Cleckheaton at Moorend easily.

Lee Goddard (48) dominated an opening partnership of 86 with Aidan Langley (28) after New Farnley chose to bat, but the stand of the innings was 159 for the fourth wicket between former county players Mark Lawson (119no) and Dan Hodgson (56), Grant Soames weighing in with a rapid 40 not out.

Although Harvey Booth scored 51 and wicketkeeper Ian Carradice 39, Cleckheaton never threatened to win and were dismissed for 184, with the skilful Gurman Randhawa taking 4-30 and Alex Lilley 3-55.

At the bottom, improving Batley notched their first victory of the season, defeating Wrenthorpe by 19 runs, thanks chiefly to openers Abdul Wahid (66) and Roheil Hussain (72), Umar Farooq (5-52) and Muhammad Hafeez (4-72).

Elsewhere in the Bradford League Premier Division on Saturday, fourth-placed Hanging Heaton cruised to an eight-wicket victory over fifth-placed Methley and 11th-placed Morley slipped to a 111-run defeat to Bradford and Bingley at Wagon Lane.

Meanwhile, it was a weekend to forget for Horsforth in the Aire-Wharfe League Division One.

They were bowled out for just 28 by Beckwithshaw, losing by nine wickets as Max Beeley took 5-11.

Burley-in-Wharfedale picked up their sixth victory of the season by defeating leaders Saltaire by three wickets.

Nicky Bulcock’s 4-46, together with two-wicket hauls from Sam Fox, Joe Hall and Jason Wright restricted Saltaire to 149 all out.

Burley then slipped to 68-5 before Hall’s unbeaten knock of 41 saw the hosts home to victory.

Elsewhere, third-placed Otley were three-wicket winners against Olicanian, second-placed Bilton defeated Collingham and Linton by five wickets and Ilkley beat Addingham by 74 runs.