Keighley’s defeat at Undercliffe on Saturday sounded the death knell for their hopes of promotion from the JCT600 Bradford League Second Division.

The visitors went down by three wickets in a tight match to their rivals which reduced the contenders to three – Bankfoot, Undercliffe and Windhill, who are at Lawkholme Lane on Saturday – with two weekends left.

Keighley pace bowler Ross Towler said of the match at Intake Road: “It was a good game in the end but we got off to a slow start and did well to get as many as we did.”

The visitors were 98-7 at one stage as Nawaz Sardar and Chris Greenwood made in-roads. However, Keighley were revived by Richard Rob-inson (59) and Richard Wood (42no), who added 57 for the eighth wicket.

Robinson’s half-century came off 55 balls and his whole innings only lasted 61 balls and included eight fours and two sixes.

Towler added: “Richard Wood’s innings was a lovely little cameo but our total in the end was probably a little under-par.

“Undercliffe’s batting line-up is very strong and Chris Taylor batted really well. He guided them home by scoring an unbeaten 80.

“They were coasting to victory until Richard Robinson took three wickets caught and bowled, which made things exciting.”

From being 111-1, Undercliffe slipped to 168-7 but Taylor’s doggedness was enough to give them the victory and the leadership.

They have 278 points, which is two more than Bankfoot and five more than Windhill, with Keighley fourth on 244.

Towler said: “Undercliffe commented afterwards on how we kept on fighting to the end, which reflects well on the youngsters in our team who will have learnt a lot over the course of the season.

“Paul Quinlan got his first five-for and a century, Simon Bailey has also done really well, and Andrew Waggett and Matthew Bottomley have excelled as openers.”

Keighley II won only their third match of the season, defeating visitors Baildon by six wickets.

Jason Perry (5-32), Alex Towler (3-25) and Andrew Coppen (2-4) dismissed the Jenny Laners for 71, Allan Birkett then hitting 39no as Keighley eased home.