RAIN wrecked the Craven League programme last weekend with many games called off before a ball was bowled.

Others were halted after only a handful of overs while just four games were completed, but one of those had a big bearing on the top of Division One.

Leaders Embsay travelled to second placed Barrowford and found the home side reluctant to start the game. They had certainly changed their minds by the end of the match which they won by 18 runs. Their victory narrowed the gap at the top to just two points instead of being eight behind.

The Bull Holme side had Liam Roberts to thank for their 122-9 as he scored 35. Dan Stephens claimed 3-38 and John Metcalfe 3-53. The Shires Lane side started well and were 47-1 before the wheels came off and they crashed to 104 all out. John Hargreaves took 5-48 and David Hartley 3-23.

Foulridge posted 172-6 at home to Long Lee with James Lickess scoring 57no and Chris Gildea 30 as Matt Taylor finished with 3-59. The Keighley side were then blasted out for a paltry 41. Only skipper Richard Ayrton with 15 reached double figures in an innings that contained six ducks.

The damage was done by John Lambert who took 6-23 off 9 overs and Ryan Duerden 4-14 off 9.4 overs.

There was a smattering of play between Oakworth and Bradley and in the Bronte derby, whilst there was none at Thornton or Cullingworth.

No games were completed in Division Two, but the nearest to a conclusion was at Street Lane where Skipton CI made 155-5 declared, Luke Walker scored 68no and Mark Chisnall 50. The Saints replied with 64-3 the weather forced a halt.

Riddlesden's game with Thornton II made the most progress in Division Three. The homesters reached 77-2, before stumps were drawn. Crossflatts reached 20-0 at home to Carleton and the rest were abandoned.

It was a similar story in the Division Four with play only possible for a couple of overs between Bradley and Cullingworth.

There was a result in Division Five at Rose Cottage where Keighley TC beat Foulridge by three wickets wickets in a game of over 500 runs. Bill Lutz scored 84 and Mick Gildea 71 as the Noyna side rattled up 251-5 in their 45 overs.

Neil Coppack 61 and Chris Brookes 63 got the reply off to a good start with 119 for the first wicket. The rest of the batters carried on the good work and in a time-limit game the target was reached in the 40th over, which was the last over to be bowled. Gildea tried valiantly to stem the tide as he finished with 4-63 off 13 overs. The win allows the Keighley side to take top spot ahead of Crossflatts on run-rate.

Finally at Sutton the home side made 153-6 against Sandy Lane, Craig Smith top scoring with 55 as C Dunne took 3-19. The visitors had replied with 99-6 at the close and the points were shared.