Soft wickets were the order of the day on Saturday and bowlers who were in the ascendancy in the Craven League..

At Oakworth, where Haworth nipped across the Worth Valley to take on their near neighbours the Cure Hill side batted first and struggled against some fine bowling by Jamie Rowell who took 4-37 off 19 overs. The innings went from 83-5 to 87 all out after Damian Rowell claimed 4-2 in 16 balls. Steve Hartley was top scorer with 22 and Graham Rankin watched the closing carnage to finish on 21no. The Bronte side were then blasted from the water by Michael Scarborough 6-24 and Rankin 3-18, being dismissed for 48, in their 33rd over.

Embsay got their ball rolling by beating Thornton by 7 wickets at Shires Lane. The homesters had the visitors at 11-5 before Brian Laycock with 31 helped the score to 81 all out, with John Metcalfe taking 6-34 off 22 overs and the returning Dan Stephens getting 3-26. Earlier Stephen Speak had bowled 14 overs and finished with 1-8. The champions were made to work for the points taking 34 overs to reach their target. Duncan Bullough making 38.

Cowling remain unbeaten after their travels down the road to Sutton, but it was a tense affair. The visitors had Steve Mitchell, with 64 to thank for their 150-5 in their overs. The homesters stuck to their task and needed 12 off the last two overs. Sadly for them they could only manage 7 and went down by 4 runs. Justin Holdsworth top scored with 39, Alan Johnson made 30 as Stephen Richardson finished with 3-49.

Barrowford are also unbeaten, seeing off neighbours Foulridge at Bull Holme. The homeside went first and made a modest 121 with Kevin Lyons making 36 and Nigel Burton 30 as Tom Stephenson took 5-30 and John Lambert 3-37. The Noyna side were never really in the hunt and closed 43 runs short of their target. Ajmal Choudry taking 4-12 and John Hargreaves 3-24.

Cullingworth pulled off their first victory at home to Long Lee. The Keighley side were dismissed for 86, with Andy Hodgson 3-15 and Dave Robinson 3-37 doing most of the damage. The homesters lost 6 wickets reaching the goal as Matt Taylor battled valiantly to finish with 4-45.

Haworth WE were delighted to leave Bradley with the points, winning handsomely by 7 wickets. The homesters were restricted to 105-9 as Jason Bilbrough 6-45 and Malc Dovernor 3-5 did the damage. Without Neil Robinson's 64 the score would have looked horrendous. Graham Ellis 45 and Les Jones 39 helped the Bronte side to the spoils.

In the Second Division, Haworth Road beat visitors Airedale by 103 runs. No 7 R Butterfield with 41no helping to set a target of 167 after opener A Griggs had made 35. Alan Hayes trundling away with his spinners to good effect to finish with 6-62 off 17 overs. The Keighley side made a poor fist of their reply and were shot out for 64. M Holmes taking 3-10 and C Griggs 2-0.

Cononley were looking to build on last week's victory at Bingley Congs, but came unstuck at home to Denholme. The visitors had Gareth Marshall in fine form as he took 8-46 to help the homesters back in the hut for a modest 108 with Willie Naylor, 38, in the runs again. David with 52no helped Denholme to an impressive 7 wicket win.

Glusburn had too much firepower for visitors Ingrow St John's. They knocked them over for 117 of which Colin Bottomley top scored with 31 as Kevin Hird claimed 4-17. The homeside were rocking at 10-2 but Phil Shackleton 48no and David Barton 26 steadied the ship before Alan Thornley chipped in with 28no to guide them to a comfortable 7-wicket triumph.

Ingrow's N Khan with 5-25 helped to knock over visitors Bingley Congs for a paltry 67. The Keighley side romped home by 8 wickets.

Newcomers Wilsden played their first game of the season at home to Pendle Forest. Batting first they scored 134-9 with D Hewer scoring 41no as S Halstead took 3-22. The red rose side closed 43 runs short thanks mainly to P Mistry's 4-26.

Skipton CI enjoyed a smashing if somewhat narrow victory over at Chatburn. Batting first they recorded the day's highest total 200-5 with Simon Bates scoring 44 and Nick Williamson a super 92no. In reply the Ribblesdale side made 195-8 with John Lockley making 70 and Richard Shovelton 45.

There was an upset in Division Three when Cowling overcame champions Oakworth by 15 runs at Keighley Road. The homesters were pegged back to 148 of which Mark Batty scored 61 and the venerable Vernon Rooke 47. Michael Davison was the most successful bowler finishing with 5-13. In reply the Cure Hill side stuttered against the bowling of Dave Sutton who finished with 5-39. Luke Scott with 39 offered the most resistance.

Last years runners up Embsay also failed to pick up the points away to Sandy Lane. The homeside made 133-9 in their overs that was 31 too many for the Shires Laners.

Thornton were on the back foot from the word go at home to Barrowford. Peter Hakin 5-28, John Stanworth 3-13 and John Cant 2-9 knocked them over for a measly 53 in 40.1 overs. The red rose side lost 3 quick wickets before the redoubtable David Wilkinson took the to victory with 40no.

Carleton will want to forget their travels to Ingrow St John's. They were shot out for 56 with the Saints knocked off for the loss of 5 wickets.

The closest finish of the day came down at Riddlesden where Gargrave were the visitors. The homeside were put in and lost two wickets before Mick Bailey joined David Henson. The two grafted against the wiles of Ray Jones and Ernie Moorhouse. Bailey made 42 and Henson 32 as their side totalled 142-6. Gargrave also found run scoring difficult on a very soft wicket and after 27 overs were 54-2. Former Wharfedale man Paul Drinkall, back to his old club battled away with Jones to try and keep the scoreboard moving. They looked to have the game won when on 125 in the 40th over Jones holed out for a hard earned 40. Two balls later Drinkall did the same thing with his score on 59 and it was game on. Wickets tumbled and runs were nicked here and there. The last ball saw 4 needed to tie, sadly it was only to be three and the homesters took the points by just one run.

In the Fourth Division, Glusburn are the only side with a 100% record, although they struggled to get the points at Bingley Congs. The homeside went first and were knocked over for 67 with F Mountain top scoring with 27 as Rummy Smith finished with 4-34 from 20 overs. It took a rearguard knock of 29no by Ian Shoesmith to see the visitors to victory by 3 wickets.

Wilsden took the spoils down at Airedale by 25 runs. The hill toppers made 142 with M Beckett making 33no as P Quinlan took 5-47 and Zaman 4-41. The Keighley managed 117 in reply.

Long Lee rattled up one of the best scores of the day, 171-7, at home to Ingrow. Matthew Barnes made 62 and put on 86 for the first wicket with Jan Haider, as Ian Herbert claimed 4-71. It took a good spell of bowling by first change bowler S Razak to undermine the visitors. He finished with 8-35 off 14 overs and they fell 42 runs short of their target.

The second highest score of the day went to Haworth who blasted 183-5 off visitors Cullingworth's attack. Glenn Ogden made 49, Dave Walsh 45 and Colin Williamson 31. Then Derek Bright 3-13 and Paul Gower 3-3 off 10 balls helped the visitors back to the pavilion for a miserable 40.

Pendle Forest were 85 run winners over 9 man Bradley. The Fence side were restricted to 124; with opposing skipper Ashley Walmsley taking 6-46. This was something of a recovery after they were 43-6 at one time. Peter Jones 5-16 and Andrew Hakin 3-18 ensured their was no way the South Craveners were going to nick the points.

Chris Windle 32no, Mick Prince jnr 29 and Matt Carr 7-51 were the stars of Skipton CI's 42 runs triumph over Haworth Road at Sandylands. A Cook 4-59 and N Griggs 4-44 tried hard for the losers.

After only two weeks nobody in the Fifth Division has a 100% record. Pendle Forest III were shot out for 36 on their last visit to Keighley TC. This time they faired a little better, as they made 50 with A Greenwood taking 8-12. The Keighley side knocked off the runs for the loss of one wicket.

Sandy Lane put paid to Crossflatts in the shadows of the Building Society. The visitors clattered 163 in their innings with P Burnett scoring 40 as Steve Gage took 4-40. 'Flatts could only reply with 79.

Denholme ran into Sutton's David Holdsworth in fine form. First he carried his bat with 77no as his side posted 140-4 in their overs. Then he came on as first change to take 5-26 off 15 overs to restrict Denholme to 117. L Tennant who finished with 3-29 ably assisted him.

Gargrave were dismissed for 68 at home to Cononley and it very nearly was enough. T Holloway took 7-26 for the visitors, who lost 8 wickets getting to their target. Saleem finishing with 5-13.

Foulridge scored 161 at Noyna against Chatburn who knocked off the runs for the loss of five wickets. David Hoyle scored 46 for the losers whilst D Lakin 64, C Waddington 47 and M Braithwaite 5-47 did the business for the winners.