Farsley stole a march on their Division Two title and promotion rivals when they were the only winners on a day of rain disruption in the JCT600 Bradford League.

Looking to make an immediate return to the top flight following last season’s relegation, they increased their lead over second-placed New Farnley to 20 points with four matches left after gaining 15 points from their seven-wicket home win over Idle.

They bowled out the visitors for 117, with Mark Harrison taking 4-22 in 10.4 overs, while James Pearson took 3-30 and skipper Ian Philliskirk 2-21.

Farsley then sped to their modest target in 17.1 overs, with top scorer Joe Greaves (69) sharing a second-wicket stand of 108 with Harrison (36).

New Farnley, bidding to gain promotion in their first season in the Bradford League, would have been confident of victory after bowling out Brighouse for 128, with Nadeem Hussain (3-33) and Nick Walker (3-29) each taking three wickets, but rain prevented them starting their reply.

Spen Victoria are third, only nine points behind New Farnley, after taking seven points from their abandoned home game against Keighley, but they were in trouble when the rain came.

The visitors made 205-9, with Matthew Bottomley (54) and Imran Patel (49) their top scorers as Ben Platt took 4-57. Joe Stead then made inroads into Spen’s top order, claiming 4-18 to reduce the home side to 41-5 when the match was abandoned.

Fourth-placed Yeadon, 15 points behind Spen, would have fancied their chances at 99-1 in 13 overs, needing only 81 to beat visitors Windhill.

Damon Gormley reached 5,000 Bradford League runs on 46 not out when the match was abandoned. Joe Ollerenshaw made 102 in Windhill’s total of 179-6.

There were two century-makers as all six matches in the Division One programme were abandoned.

Opener Adam Waite hit one six and 15 fours in his 103 as second-placed Pudsey St Lawrence totalled 263-3 at Bradford & Bingley.

He shared a second-wicket stand of 139 with teenager Callam Goldthorp (67) after skipper Mark Robertshaw had taken his season’s tally to 949 with a knock of 41.

Tom Hudson took 3-9 to leave Bingley in trouble at 43-3 when the rain came.

Woodlands’ hopes of ret-aining the title have almost disappeared – they are 37 points adrift of leaders Cleckheaton with only three matches to play.

Their problems continued when Morley bowled them out for 110, with opening bowlers Matthew Dowse (4-25) and Nathan Bromby (3-43) doing the damage.

At the other end of the table, bottom club Saltaire, who are 40 points adrift of safety, are all but relegated.

Hanging Heaton scored 266-4 against them at Roberts Park, with Gary Fellows hitting two sixes and 16 fours in his 103 and sharing a second-wicket stand of 140 with Jamie Sykes. Saltaire were 1-0 after five overs when the rain came.

Baildon, also in trouble 30 points adrift of safety, restricted Pudsey Congs to 154-7 before their match was abandoned.

Consistent batting from Nick Rushworth (70), Neil Gill (59) and Waqas Maq-sood (45) enabled East Bierley to reach 242 at home to Manningham Mills, for whom Zeeshan Qasim (4-57) and Wasim Qasim (4-64) each took four wickets.