AUSSIE paceman Richard McCarthy continued his excellent form by taking eight wickets on Saturday and steering Bradford and Bingley into joint top spot in the Bradford League.

McCarthy took 8-44 to put out Windhill for a mere 88 in reply to the Bees 195-5. Opener Carl Sharp hit 91 for Bingley before being run out and former Yorkshire Twos player Richard Wilkinson made an excellent 56 not out.

Bingley's Guiseley-based skipper Patrick Fordham is hoping to keep his side at the top as they bid for their second title in three years.

They currently share top spot with Pudsey Congs with Baildon in third place three points adrift. Current champions Hanging Heaton also showed they are not out of it yet by moving into fourth place after a seven runs win over Congs.

John Roper also grabbed eight wickets as Yeadon forged a much needed win over Drighlington. In an excellent display they put out Drighlington for 101 with Roper taking a superb 8-38 off 19.5 overs while Darren Murray took 1-5 and Craig Thornton 1-17. Roper has now overtaken Darren Murray as leading wicket taker. Roper has 42 and Murray 41.

Yeadon then knocked off the runs without loss as Ian Philliskirk made 73 not out and his fellow Scarborian Simon Gormley 25 not out.

This win takesYeadon up the table and eases their relegation worrries.

Drighlington.- P Lloyd c Hebden b Murray 0, M Speck c Thornton b Roper 23, S Moore lbw Roper 24, P Carter b Roper 9, I Khan not out 8, R Whitehurst c and b Roper 0, N Gore c Murray b Roper 0, P Eachus c and b Roper 11, A Brooke lbw Thornton 1, N West c D Gormley b Roper 0, M Brooke b Roper 0; x 25; ttl. 101.

Bowling: D Murray 6-4-5-1; J Roper 19.5-5-36-8; N Khan 5-0-22-0; C Thornton 10-4-17-1.

Yeadon.- I Philliskirk not out 73, S Gormley 25; x 4; ttl. 102-0.

Bowling: N West 4.5-2-6-0; M Brooke 8-3-22-0; P Lloyd 0.1-0-0-0; I Khan 7-2-15-0; R Whitehurst 4-0-25-0; M Speck 3-0-23-0; A Brooke 2-0-10-0.

In Division Two Esholt picked up two good wins over the weekend with young Andrew Luxton starring in both.

He took 8-45 with his leg spinners as third placed Gomersal were put out for 205 on Saturday.

An excellent rearguard knock of 48 from number eight J Wilkinson helped Esholt ease past the target after Luxton had made 25, opener S Shuttleworth 21, J Barton 35 and A Weerappuli 22.

Then on Sunday Luxton hammered a magnificent 75 not out from the number four spot as Esholt chased a Saltaire score of 160-9. He took 3-69 off 18 overs in that innings to back up Ben Lister's 5-72 off 25 overs.

Luxton then steered the side to a four wickets win with Danny Gaunt giving support with 25.