DENHOLME gave the rest of the league warning of their arrival when they blasted 372 against Barnoldswick.

The eight-man opposition had no answer to the onslaught as they were given a lesson with both bat and ball.

Gareth Marshall led the way with 159 which included six sixes and 24 fours -- and took just 70 minutes. He was backed up by Rob Taylor's 126 which made David Wear's 56 look almost run of the mill.

They showed no mercy on the Barnoldswick batters who were shot out for 61. Their 311-run defeat may earn a place in the record books.

Top individual performance came from Damian Rowell, who turned in the kind of display all-rounders can normally only dream of for Haworth. He beat defending champions Embsay single-handed, blasting a massive 158 not out as Haworth totalled 259-6 and then claiming 7-59 in 17.3 overs as the Shires Lane side were dismissed for 168.

Long Lee took over top spot in the first division with a five wicket win over Sutton. Only Craig Thornton (56) showed much form as the visitors were dismissed for 125 and with Craig Taylor (53no) a steadying influence as wickets fell, the Keighley side moved into the lead.

Barrowford must have been confident when they reached 211-7 at Oakworth, Neil Hargreaves (55) leading the way, but Oakworth are starting to find their feet after a slow start and came through to win by three wickets. Once again they were endebted to Michael Scarborough (78no) and John Crossley (55).

The basement battle between Cowling and Skipton CI had a twist in the tail at Sandylands. With Keith Woodhead making 76 and Steve Mitchell 39, the visitors reached a very respectable 172-5, which looked a formidable tally when the home side were 125-6. Nick Williamson (73no) proved the man for the crisis and he steered his side to a four-wicket win.

Thornton confirmed their win over Embsay the previous week was no fluke when they brushed aside Pendle Forest at Booth Bridge Lane. Embsay reached 149, thanks largely to Ayub (61) and Townsend (42), but that tally was to prove wholly inadequate when Thornton replied.

They had openers David Harrison (85no) and Kevin Pollard (52no) in fine form as they steered the side to a ten-wicket win.

Bradley were in irresistible form when they visited Carleton, coming away with a nine-wicket win after Carleton were put out for 136. Ian Bell (66no) scored half his sides runs off the bat, but when Neil Andrews (66no) and Mike Milbourn (60no) got into their stride, there was only one outcome.

Colin Bottomley was another centurion when his unbeaten 101 helped Division Two leaders Ingrow St John's to 241-4 against lowly Keighley Tech, who were dismissed for 154.

Haworth West End enjoyed having the sun on their backs at Chatburn, Duncan Tetley (64no) and Tristan Wallhead (51no) helping them to 205-2. Jason Bilbrough claimed 6-43 when the home side batted, but they were still battling at 118-7 at the close.

Foulridge had a five-wicket win over Gargrave, while Jimmy Nelson's recorded their first victory of the season at home to Glusburn. This proved to be an Iqbal/Stafford Show, the pair claiming 4-25 and 3-37 respectively when Glusburn reached 146 and then 44 not out and 53 not out to secure a four-wicket win.

Cononley had a chance to avenge a Cup defeat against Airedale, but the form of the previous week held good. Trevor Cox (58) helped Airedale to 170 and a 4-13 show from Alan Hayes did the damage as Cononley were put out for 112.

Top bowling figures of the day fell to Paul Barwick, who claimed 5-3 in 4.5 overs as leaders Embsay shot Haworth out for 77, Brian Hodgson (44no) leading his side to an eight-wicket success, while Thornton claimed second place from Pendle Forest, who they trounced by nine wickets.

Mick Hall (5-46) and Chris Simpson (53) were key men in Bradley's five-wicket win over Chatburn, while Steve Powell was another century maker when he hit 109 not out in Oakworth's 255-5 at Barrowford, where the home side replied with 171-6.

Sutton's Andy Elrick produced the best over of the day when he claimed five wickets in six balls in a 6-12 return which saw Long Lee seconds put out for 91. The Keighley bowlers had the last laugh, however, when Paul Swindlehurst (5-7) and John Tetley (5-19) sent Sutton crashing to 29 all out.

Nigel Carr (74) and Pete Mason (50) were both on song as Skipton C.I. reached 209-8 at Glusburn, but veteran Phil Taylor (75) was the match winner as the home side got home by two wickets with two balls to spare.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.