WHEN the two promoted sides met in the Airedale and Wharfedale League Chris Shepherd bagged a hat-trick to put a spoke in Burley's wheels.

Tong Park had set a target of 180 but Burley had little hope of reaching the target when Shepherd removed their first three batsmen with his hat-trick and then followed this up with two wickets in two balls as Burley struggled to 130 all out.

Only Richard Brook with 41 and Peter Sumner with 36 showed any real resistance after opener M Harrison had hit 28.

Follifoot remain the pacesetters and they took four points from a drawn game with Green Lane restricting them to 126-9 as D Pattinson bagged 4-28 off 18 overs. Phil Atkinson (40) and Rob Britton (38) battled hard to turn the tide after Mike Halmshaw had hit 57 for Follifoot.

Kirkstall Educational have worked their way up the divisions since joining from the Leeds League and they look a real title threat this time. They dismissed Otley for 141 with J Siddall bagging 4-49, A Siddall 3-27 and Neil Walmsley 3-30. Only David Brady with a mid-order 49 managed to stave them off for a while.

Opener Steve Harrison then hit 12 fours and a six in a fine unbeaten 68 which saw his side home by a five wicket margin.

Adel bagged their first win of the season when they took on Beckwithshaw restricting the home side to 133-9 as Tim Grey took 4-40 off 17 overs.

Adel then knocked off the runs for the loss of four wickets with Reggie Thomas top scoring with 39.

Rawdon were another side to notch their first win, a satisfying seven wicket affair at Guiseley. The home side had made 171-8 with a half-century from Ian Chaplin and useful contributions from Chris Wain (25 no), Andrew Paley (25) and Australian Jolyon Leaver (22).

Rawdon lost a couple of wickets before Bruce Percy (51) and Duncan Stow (53 no) settled in to a third wicket stand of 103 which turned the game in their favour.

Champions Bilton don't aim to give up their title without a fight and they took six points off a North Leeds side which fell for 168.

They had Andy Walker to thank for victory as he bagged 5-40 off 16 overs and then hit an unbeaten 31 as they romped home by four wickets.

Ilkley's New Zealander Leighton Parsons hit his maiden century for the club but still finished up on the losing side at Horsforth.

The home side had made 200 all out with opener Ben Clarke hitting 44 and David Main 37.

Parsons apart Ilkley had no answer to the pace of Kris Lewis (3-37 off 15 overs) and Andy Robinson (4-38 off 12 overs) and they were dismissed for 152. This win leaves Horsforth at the top of Division B, the only side with a 100 per cent record.

Steeton maintained their good start to the season with a six wickets win over visitors Menston. They put their visitors out for 96, David Lester being the mainstay with 56.

Neil Spragg picked up a fine 5-18 as Menston fell. Australian Nick Carroll enjoyed a good day following his 3-25 off 12 overs with a half-century.

Bardsey hung on for two points in a drawn game with Calverley who made 184 all out struggling against Nick Ryder who took 6-63 off 25 overs. Bardsey replied with 138-9 to get a share of the spoils, opener A Bowes making 63.

Hall Park hung on for a point after seeing Knaresborough total 220-5. The major contributions came from G Pickles (75 no) and J Pickles (42). Park replied with 110-9, G Pickles completing a good all-round performance with a 3-13 return.

Pool, led from the front by their new Australian skipper Simon Dart, are showing good early season form. Dart made 25 as his side posted 257-6, the major contributions coming from Mark McEneaney, who clubbed 4 sixes and 6 fours in an unbeaten 73, Paul Wilkinson with 45 and David Singleton with 41. Dart then took 3-39 off 23 overs as Collingham replied with 159-6.

In Division C Ally Long hit a fine unbeaten 96 to steer Olicanians to a five wickets win over Bolton Villas sharing a good stand with Australian David Corcoran (52).

An unbeaten stand of 154 between opener Chris Wynd and 16 year-old Joel Solts set up Alwoodley's first win of the season at Woodhouse.