* Click here to sign up to free news and sport alerts from Pudsey Today.

The Tofts Road men last scooped the league's big prize in 1991, but have a more than fighting chance this term in an intriguing championship chase which looks like a four-way battle between themselves, East Bierley, Bradford and Bingley and Baildon.

Second-placed Saints showed their mettle with a key 19-run weekend victory over leaders Bierley, with some Steady stuff seeing them over the line.

* Click here to become a fan of Pudsey Today on Facebook.

The military medium pace of all-rounder Alex Stead saw him pocket a pivotal 5-48 to help to dismiss Bierley for 236 after Saints opened with a solid 255-6.

* Click here for latest news in Pudsey & Stanningley.

Gareth Clough continued his excellent season with an unbeaten 54, with Stead chipping in with 38.

Chris Marsden, Mark Robertshaw and Kassir Maroof also contributed thirty-something knocks.

After a shaky start, Andrew Rennison boosted Bierley's hopes with a fine 67, well supported by Gharib Razak (46), but the wiles of Stead and Gary Severn (3-60) won the day for Saints.

* Click here for Pudsey Today's Community Directory, where you will find basic information on a wide range of local community groups and organisations.

Just four points separate fourth-placed Bradford and Bingley from Bierley and expect plenty of twists and turns between now and September 12.

But Saints know their margin for error is fine, with all their title rivals having games in hand.

* Click here to add your name to our Pudsey Ex-Pats Map.

Secretary Tony Moore said: "We're doing well, but the unfortunate thing is that we've played two more games than our rivals.

"We've got two blank weekends to come and might need other teams to slip up.

"We've got a good run-in, but would need to be 20 points clear by September 6 to have a chance because we don't play on the last day.

"We've got a big game with Baildon this weekend while we still have to play three of the bottom five, although we've lost to the bottom two!"

On a stand-out win at Bierley, Moore added: "They are a strong side. It was the first time they had lost since Spring Bank Holiday and they've won six out of seven games since, taken 123 points and shot up out of nowhere.

"Alex Stead, with his military medium, bowled really well. The pitch at Pudsey always gives you a little bit as a bowler.

"He's a big player for us, as is Gareth (Clough), who has scored over 250 runs in his last four or five innings and being an ex-county man, his experience is guiding some of the young lads."

Baildon (113-7) increased the gloom for stricken champions Woodlands (112) with a three-wicket win.

They were indebted to a brilliant spell from left-arm seamer Andy Walker, who took the first six Woodlands wickets in a haul of 6-24 – Mushtaq Ahmed bagging 3-28.

Baildon reached victory, despite Safraz Ahmed's tidy 5-35.

There was no fizz for Yeadon (100), whose 150th anniversary celebrations proved a bit of a damp squib as they crashed to Bradford and Bingley (139-9), whose game-breakers were Chris Thompson (62) and skipper Phil Slater (4-15).

Grant Lambert (3-26) and Paul Machell (3-26) were the pick for Yeadon.
Notable work from Ayuz Akram (3-10), James Lee (3-32) and Lorenzo Inghram (31no) saw on-song Farsley (79-4) prevail at Saltaire (78).
A pivotal relegation skirmish went the way of Cleckheaton (200-6), who held sway against Hanging Heaton (170).

The spin of Mark Cummins (5-29) helped to bring about Heaton's demise, with Neil Nicholson hitting an invaluable 65 not out for the Moorenders.
Manningham Mills (202) failed to cash in on losses for Heaton and Woodlands in a 29-run loss at Gomersal (231-7), for whom Richard Gould (72) and Ben Platt (49 and 4-30) had fine games.