Woodlands seal derby victory over Scholes

Woodlands batsman Sam Frankland stretches for the ball under the watchful eye of Scholes wicketkeeper Matt Garside in the Bradford League derby.

Woodlands kicked off a new era in the All-rounder Bradford Premier League with a derby victory over Scholes last Saturday.

New Woodlands captain Tim Jackson, a close season recruit from neighbours Cleckheaton, made 60 and shared a 146-run stand with Sam Frankland.

Another new signing, Alex Atkinson (45no), and Logan Weston (33) helped Woodlands secure maximum batting points as they reached 236-3.

Scholes struggled in reply and were bowled out for 110 as spinners Chris Brice (4-2) and Kez Ahmed (4-52) found conditions to their liking.

Cleckheaton produced a superb run chase to overhaul Lightcliffe’s total of 264-5 and seal a three-wicket win.

Chris Taylor (50) and captain Alex Stead (46) shared a 94-run opening wicket stand and after a middle order collapse, Rob Burton hit six sixes and three fours in an unbeaten 68 as he shared an unbroken sixth-wicket stand of 102 with Jonathan Wilson (36no).

Cleck captain John Wood (74) and Andy Gorrod (46) shared an opening wicket partnership of 112 at the start of the reply.

Mohammad Zaman (50) and Ian Nicholson (35) maintained the tempo of the innings as Cleckheaton won with 3.2 overs to spare.

East Bierley slipped to a 51-run defeat at newly-promoted Morley.

Opener James McNichol (54) and captain Matt Baxter (52) helped Morley reach 159 against some good spin bowling from Luke Jarvis (5-32).

New signing Fahid Rehman hit 54 on his East Bierley debut but they were bowled out for 108 as new Morley recruit Henry Rush claimed 4-9.

Hanging Heaton earned maximum points from a 27-run victory over Farsley.

Captain Gary Fellows (82) and James Keen (50) were the leading run scorers as Hanging Heaton posted 235-9.

New opening bowler Tom Chippendale, a winter recruit for Ossett, made a great start for his new club by taking 6-47.

Farsley’s debut-making batsman Ryan Cooper was their top scorer with 46 as they threatened to overhaul the total at 196-7 but the final three wickets fell for 12 runs.

Champions Pudsey St Lawrence launched their defence of the title with a 26-run win over New Farnley.

St Lawrence were restricted to 173 all out as last season’s leading batsman Mark Robertshaw top scored with 65,

Richie Lamb took 4-47 and Steve Watts (3-25) as St Lawrence bowled out their rivals for 147 in reply.

Pudsey Congs opener Callum Geldart hit the Premier Division’s first century as a sparkling 149 set up a 135-run win at Bradford & Bingley.

Geldart shared a 118-run stand with new signing Dylan Budge (80) as Congs posted 306-6 before dismissing Bingley for 149.