Embsay from retaining the J P Mewies Craven & District Cricket League title?

That was the inevitable question posed when their nearest challengers and arch-rivals Oakworth suffered a shock defeat at the hands of their derby rivals Haworth WE to leave the Shires Lane men with an 11-point lead at the head of the table.

On a day when the sweltering weather made drinks intervals more of a necessity than an indulgence, Oakworth's 43-run home defeat by the next-to-bottom men from Penistone Hill Haworth WE was a major upset.

The Bronte side batted first and the highlight of their innings was a superb 98-minute, 93-ball century by Graham Ellis that included six sixes and 11 fours, Andy Parker 39 and Andy Benfield 20 adding good support. The latter followed this with a superb 12-over bowling effort in which he claimed 7-35.

Skipper John Crossley made 46 as the Cure Hill side were dismissed for 182.

Embsay were in the wars when they entertained Denholme, who were making their first visit to Shires Lane.

The home side rattled up 217-6 in their overs, with Simon Bailey top scoring with 72 in an innings which included four sixes and eight fours.

Both David Robinson 36 and Paul Barwick 26 were injured while batting, but the total always looked good enough after a brief spell of Denholme prosperity.

At one point the visitors were threatening to take the game to an under-par attack with a fourth-wicket stand, but a change of bowling saw Duncan Ward break the resistance and the innings closed on 99. Rob Taylor made 30 as Scott Robinson claimed 5-46 and John Metcalfe 3-34.

Barrowford closed to within a point of Oakworth after a stunning 10-wicket win over at Long Lee, while Thornton consolidated fourth spot, despite putting in an below-par performance against Skipton CI at Booth Bridge Lane.

The West Craveners batted first and five players got into the twenties before getting out. They closed on 158-8 after 45 overs. The Sandylands side made a steady start, losing four wickets for 40.

Then Simon Bates started thrashing the ball about and got them to 138-7 with bags of overs to spare.

Brian Laycock bowled him for 67 and it was basically all over. The last two wickets added seven runs to leave them just 13 short of their target. Laycock finished with 3-14 to go with Richard Craddock's 5-50.

Cowling won a ding-dong repeat of the Wynn Cup semi-final at home to Bradley. The visitors plundered 218-7, with Mick Hall making 73 and Neil Andrews 53 as Steve Richardson took 3-30. The latter then made 33no, along with Steve Mitchell, 81no, to see the home side to victory by three wickets.

Haworth had the returning Alex Austerberry to thank for their victory over visitors Cullingworth. The Bronte side cracked 203, after being 16-4 and 30-5. Austerberry scoring 67 to go with Richard Goddens 43, Andy Hodgson claiming 4-34.

The visitors then crashed to 96, with the main contribution coming from 28 extras. Gary Binns took 5-33 from seven overs.

Cononley slipped up at Glusburn and in doing so slipped off the top of the table. Mick Baxter with a magnificent 123 helped the home side to 235 in their innings. Phil Taylor chipped in with 37 and David Barton 21. Andrew Town took 4-54 as Steve Filkin and Ian Thompson took three wickets each.

The reply was woeful, with six wickets crashing for 37 before a mini revival got the innings to 107 where it closed. Mark Pickles took 4-39 and Kevin Hird 3-16.

Sutton go back to the top after comprehensive seven-wicket win over Ingrow St John's at Royd's Hill.