The battle at the top of the First Division has the beginnings of a three horse race as the top three all won convincingly.

Embsay were in good form on their visit to Haworth. The homeside batted first and were dismissed for a modest 66, which took 37.4 overs to compile. Tom Hanson taking 4-29 in 17 overs. The emphatic reply which succeeded by 9 wickets took 24.2 overs, with Duncan Ward scoring 34no and Duncan Bullough 33no.

Oakworth were seven wickets winners at Long Lee.

Third placed Barrowford entertained Cowling and batting first posted 174-9 with David Flounders top scoring with 40no. Steve Richardson finished with 5-76 and Martyn Dalby 4-86. The South Craveners could only muster 130-9 in their 45 overs. Miles Nicholson making 27no as David Hartley and John Hargreaves grabbed three wickets apiece.

Fourth placed Skipton C.I. struggled against the bowling of visitors Cullingworth. They could only manage 112-9 in their overs. Nick Williamson scoring 50 as Dave Robinson took 4-40 and Chris Welch 3-16. The visitors also struggled to score. However they knocked off the runs for the loss of only two wickets in 42 overs, with Steve Welch leading the way with 49. The two sides are now equal on 16 points.

There was a cracking game at Booth Bridge Lane where Pendle Forest just held on for victory by the narrow margin of 4 runs. The Fence side batted first and scored 192-7 in their innings. Asad Ali top scored with 45 which included 4 sixes and 3 fours. Andrew Townsend made a busy 42 and Andrew Mawdsley 33. Mark Paxton stuck manfully to the bowling task to finish with 4-62 off 19 overs. The homester's reply stuttered to 133-7 where the mainstay of the innings upto then, Paul Ellis fell for 38. This became 154-9 in the 41st over and all looked lost. The last pair Paul Mounsey and Malcolm Holt set about their task with great endeavor. Singles were taken and the former blasted two huge sixes, to reach the last over requiring 8 to win. Three singles off the first three balls, then Mounsey went for the winner. He was caught on the midwicket boundary and the points were Pendle's. Nick Daniel finished with 7-85 off 22 overs and Townsend 3-43.

Bradley enjoyed success at home to Foulridge by 37 runs. Neil Andrews with 87no led the homeside to 185-6 as Tom Stephenson finished with 3-54. The Noyna side had suffered a set back whilst fielding when their Zimbabwean, Alex Taylor, crashed into the boundary wall trying to stop a four and badly gashed his leg, which required a visit to Airedale Hospital. In their innings they had reach 90-9 and the plucky Taylor, stitched up, chose to bat. He blasted 50no, which brought respectability to the innings, which closed on 148. Tim Rudden taking 6-41.

The leaders of the Second Division, Haworth WE, suffered their first reversal at the hands of one of their nearest rivals, Sutton. The Bronte side batted first and in a lackluster performance they made a modest 146. David Holdsworth taking 4-27 as his side held some sparkling catches. In reply the South Craveners stormed to victory by 5 wickets with Paul Williams making 60. Sutton go second and Haworth WE drop to third.

New leaders are Ingrow St John's who entertained Gargrave and saw them off by 78 runs. The Saints batted first and scored 137. Colin Bottomley scored 47 and Chris Walker 36no, as Ernie Moorhouse took 5-34. Then Walker 4-10 and Anthony Haigh 3-35 helped the visitors back to the hut for 59.

Denholme had a field day over at the Bull Holme. They clattered the day's highest score 316-4 in their overs. Star was P Clarke who scored a superb 154. He put on 120 for the first wicket with Rob Taylor who scored 47. Gareth Marshall chipped in with 41 and David Wear 31. Jimmy Nelson's replied with 160 of which N Smith scored 67 and Tony Stafford 44, Marshall finishing with 5-11.

Carleton must have been reasonably content over at Ingrow as they posted 167 with Gareth Wooler top scoring with 67 as I Roberts took 6-48. However they were blasted out of the water, losing by 9 wickets. A Parker scoring a fine 104no.

Glusburn battled to 152 over at Chatburn. David Barton scoring 31 as John Lockley took 5-56 and I Ali 3-16. The Ribblesdale side cantered to a comfortable 6-wicket triumph with Lockley making 45.

Possibly the shock of the day came down at Airedale, where lowly Cononley notched up only their second victory of the campaign. The visitors made a modest 124 as Alan Hayes spun his way to 5-42. The homeside then collapsed to 111 all out.

Leaders of the Third Division, Embsay, entertained Bradley and won by 112 runs. Andy Bell top scored with 59 and opener Simon Holt chipped in with 31. The visitors captain, Ashley Walmsley, bowled through without much luck and finished with 3-60. The South Craven side struggled in their reply, which only totalled 54. John Metcalfe finishing with 7-19 and Ian Robson 3-26.

Of the four teams in second place only Haworth were successful. They travelled to Cowling and came away victorious by 4 wickets. Derek Bright was their star with 5-39 and 38no. For the losers, skipper Mark Batty scored a fine 83 and Ray Tunnacliffe took 4-54.

Pendle Forest move into third spot after crushing Long Lee at Fence. The visitors were hustled out for 51 with Paul Hakin and Richard Ellis taking three wickets each. The homesters knocked off the runs for the loss of two wickets.

Thornton travelled to Cullingworth and had 200-8 knocked off their attack. G Fletcher 54no and Mark Rendell 37 being the main run getters. Undeterred the West Craven side blasted back and comfortably reached their target, for the loss of five wickets, with 6 overs to spare. Johnny Wilman 69 and Karl Tattam doing the business for them.

For once Glusburn's batters failed to use their excellent batting surface and made on 109 against some fine bowling by Barrowford's John Cant who claimed 6-45 in 15 overs. Only M Desgranges with 58 offered much resistance. The red rose side took only 20 overs to record a 9 wicket triumph.

Oakworth beat Skipton CI by 71 runs, with J Brewin taking 7-61 for the losers.

Ingrow St John's lead the Fourth Division on run rate from Chatburn. The Saints collected three points when Cononley were unable to raise a side.

Chatburn travelled to Gargrave and beat them by 111 runs. Will Campbell taking 8-71 for the losers.

Airedale are third after plundering a 9-wicket win over at Foulridge. In the Noyna sides 101, S Aslam took 4-18, which included the hat trick. In the reply Chris Alvey scored 47.

Ingrow are fourth after a good performance over at Sutton. They batted first and made 134 as Neil Robson claimed 7-47. The homesters were then bustled out for just 78 with T Welsh claiming 5-40.

Denholme were too strong for visitors Keighley TC winning by 6 wickets.

Finally Long Lee III put up a brave performance at Carleton against Pendle Forest III. Jamie Roberts in his first ever bowl for the side claimed 8-62 as the visitors scored 142. The reply, which only reached 85-9, did occupy all the overs, with Q Hussain making 35 as M Walsh took 5-10.