HALF-centuries from Steeton's David Robinson and Andrew Foulds couldn't stop Skipton from picking up their third win of the season in Aire-Wharfe League Division Two.

Having won the toss and chosen to bat, hosts Skipton scored 245-7.

Joe Stead (1-26) broke the opening partnership with the score on 23, courtesy of a catch by his cousin Freddie Pearson, and skipper Paul Hardwick and Stephen Pearson took a brace of wickets apiece.

Hardwick (2-54) had catches taken by Stephen Pearson and John Akrigg to remove Paul’s brother Adam (49), and Pearson (2-53) had two catches taken by keeper Foulds.

Gary Boulton (1-38) had a stumping by Foulds, and James Emmott (1-65) removed Skipton’s top scorer Iqbal Khan, who scored 64 from just 30 deliveries and added 85 for the seventh wicket with Majid Inayat (58no).

It was largely thanks to Khan’s late onslaught that Skipton posted their score to earn five batting points, while Hardwick and Freddie Pearson were awarded the fielding points as Steeton collected three bowling bonus points.

In reply, Steeton lost talisman Akrigg second ball before Freddie Pearson (19) compiled a 59-run second-wicket partnership with Robinson (58).

Freddie's 19 came from 32 deliveries with three boundaries, while David's well-earned half-century came from 67 deliveries and included two sixes and seven fours.

Robinson went on to share a 50-run third-wicket partnership with another half-centurion Foulds, whose 59 came from 88 deliveries and included two sixes and seven fours.

An excellent fourth-wicket stand of 52 between man of the match Foulds and Tom Stead (18 off 27 balls) put Steeton in a strong position at 161-4 but only James Emmott of Steeton’s last six batsmen managed double figures.

Emmott scored 37 from 31 deliveries, including two sixes and four fours as they slumped to 214 in 46.5 overs, with Khan taking 4-57 and Ben Holderness 4-59.

In the second-team match at home to Otley, Steeton were asked to field first on a drizzly day.

However, they made excellent use of the difficult early conditions, reducing Otley to 45-4 in the 15th over.

Pace bowler Josh Gill was their main tormentor and was unlucky not to finish with three wickets, keeper Phil Barrett taking both catches in his 2-46 off 15 overs.

Youngster Jack Luxton bowled two excellent spells in claiming 3-30 from ten overs, including another catch for Barrett and a catch for Josh Gill at fly slip.

Steeton struggled to hold on to a few other catches in the damp conditions, however, and Luke Watson was the only other successful bowler with 2-58 from 13 overs, with Barrett bagging a stumping as Otley recovered to 224-8. Adil Modak and Will Luxton were awarded the fielding points.

Steeton’s top order then collapsed to 29-3 by the eighth over but young opener Will Luxton was still there, sharing a 23-run stand for the fourth wicket with skipper Oliver Gledhill (10).

In the 18th over, with the score on 91-6, man of the match Will Luxton was eventually caught and bowled for an excellent 55 from 61 deliveries, including three sixes and six fours.

Steeton’s tail was shepherded by Barrett, who hit two sixes and a four in his 20 from 39 balls.

However, with only three batsmen managing double figures, the south Craven side were all out for an inadequate 118 in 26.4 overs.