THIS weekend could prove crucial for Bradford League clubs at both ends of the First Division table. With a full fixture list on both Saturday and Sunday, this is a real test for everyone.
It is a vital time for Gomersal who, having played more games than any other club in the bottom half of the table, face their first blank day of the season on Sunday, their second will be on the last day of the season, to give their relegation rivals a chance to make up some ground.
While Bankfoot look doomed to return to Division Two at the first time of asking and Saltaire are looking increasingly likely to join them, Gomersal are not yet out of the woods themselves after going down by 12 runs in a tense encounter with Yeadon.
The loss of leading wicket-taker Ben Platt with a broken thumb on his bowling hand, which, incredibily, didn’t stop him taking five wickets against Cleckheaton last week, left the bowling a little short and Yeadon’s Damon Gormley took full advantage to hit a match best 90 in his side’s 209.
Though Gomersal still had wickets in hand at the close they had allowed themselves to get behind the clock, despite a fine second-wicket century stand between Richard Gould (52) and Phil Carter (69), and it proved costly.
It will not be easy tomorrow (Sat) for Richard Whitehurst’s side as they face a daunting prospect at a Pudsey Congs side who still carry a lot of firepower despite slipping behind in the championship race.
At the other end of the table Woodlands’ Pakistani paceman Safraz Ahmed destroyed last season’s Second Division champions Undercliffe at Intake Lane to severely dent the home side’s First Division championship hopes.
Having slipped in recent weeks Undercliffe, who began the day in third place, desperately needed to see off fourth-placed Woodlands and it looked as though they were well on course at one stage as the visitors slipped to 109-6 with only 8.5 overs remaining.
Enter the whirlwind that is Safraz and just 53 balls later the Woodlands innings closed on 193-6 – ‘Saffy’ hitting 71 out of those 84 runs for the seventh wicket partnership with Sam Frankland (69 not out) off only 29 balls – his 50 coming up off 22.
In all he struck seven fours and five sixes as the Undercliffe attack buckled in the wake of his ferocious hitting.
Those 71 runs ultimately proved the difference between the sides but the Woodlands’ match winner was not finished.
He followed that sensational knock with a 3-38 return and with Richard Spittlehouse 4-33 and the ever-reliable Chris Brice 3-9, also picking up wickets Undercliffe were all out for 122.
Woodlands can certainly do Gomersal a favour at Baildon tomorrow and their chances of pressing their title claims should get a further boost on Sunday when they take on Saltaire at Albert Terrace.
Cleckheaton, who still have an outside chance of getting amongst the leaders, go to Saltaire tomorrow and then face title hopefuls Bradford and Bingley on Sunday.
Two victories for John Wood’s men could put the proverbial cat amongst the pigeons in the title race but they will need to be more convincing than the 12-run win over Bankfoot that owed a huge debt to young spinner Ed Walmsley, who picked up the last five wickets for 23 runs.
Pudsey St Lawrence stay out in front, Bradford and Bingley saw their fine run continue when they saw off Farsley by 47 runs in their Priestley Cup final dress rehearsal at Red Lane, while East Bierley beat Pudsey Congs to keep their challenge going.
Gavin Hamilton’s 34 for Bierley taking him out in front, with 634, as the First Division’s leading rungetter.
Hanging Heaton opened up their lead at the top of Division Two after a surprise defeat for Lightrcliffe at the hands of struggling Spen Victoria but will be wary of their visit from Manningham Mills to Bennett Lane as Mills have already beaten John Carruthers’ men once this season.