OLD rivals Oakworth and Embsayclashed at Cure Hill in a match which could have a strong bearing on the future of the title.

They finished first and second in the league last season and champions Embsay were struggling at 67 for six.

Jason Waddington dug in and helped edge the score to 107 when the ninth wicket fell and Scott Robinson, 15no, and Waddington, 26no, added a crucial 21 before the overs ran out.

Oakworth were cruising at 51-1 but when Lee Hollingsworth was out for 20, wickets fell regularly. Graham Rankin hit a hard-fought 20 but he was eighth man out with the score on 103. Only two more runs were added as the innings closed on 105.

Stephen Speak took six for 29 for Embsay while Rankin took five for 34.

The finish of the day came at Barrowford, where Haworth made 154 (Damian Rowell 51, Granville Thompson three for 22). Four was needed off the last over as Chris Hartley's 58 put Barrowford in a winning position, but there were two run-outs as the game ended in a tie.

Skipton Church Institute made 201-7 at home to Thornton with Luke Walker scoring 61 and Sean Williamson 34. Thornton reached 174, which was a good recovery from 76-4 with Gary Kingdon and Richard Craddock both scoring 48. Nick Williamson finished with five for 46 and Shaun Williamson three for 54.

Cowling saw Pendle Forest reach 207-6 (Andy Townsend 49, Jason Bracewell 44, Mohammad Ayub 43).

Mike Dudley led Cowling's reply with 58 and Keith Woodhead supported with 38 but they fell 14 runs short as Tim Stanley's spin earned him six for 52.

Long Lee posted 211 for the loss of just a single wicket against Bradley, with Paul Wilkinson hitting a stylish 108 against his old team. The visitors were never up with the run rate and finished on 187 for five, with Craig Tempest scoring 79.

Carleton were short of several first teamers on a stag 'do' in Spain and collapsed to 41 all out at Sutton with David Holdsworth plundering seven for 20. There was no problem overtaking this meagre total as Paul Williams hit 25no.

In Division Two Cononley were missing three key players but made 167 at Denholme, with Ian Thompson scoring 37, Tom Palin 36 and Nick Coward 33, David Wear taking four for 30. Denholme reached 131 for six with plenty of overs left after Andy Hodgson made 33 but they went for the big hits and ended up seven short. Andy Town took six for 76 and Geoff Iveson three for 22 as Denholme suffered their first defeat.

Gargrave made a modest 157 at Glusburn with D Mountain top scoring on 34. Brian Hollis took five for 56 and his side cantered to a seven wicket win in which Darren Ideson hit 58 and Richard Parkin 40.

Barnoldswick III dismissed Airedale for 151 and S Naylor made 42 and Peter Pickup 39 to get their side home by seven wickets.

Haworth West End crashed 321 for three off Keighley Tech with Lee Bilsbrough hitting a majestic 156 not out, a score which would have won him the best performance in the division last year. Andy Parker hit 90 and Ricky Sunderland 45no. Keighley Tech's reply was a respectable 188 for eight with Jason Bilbrough taking six of the wickets for 84.

Foulridge were restricted to 87 at Jimmy Nelson's, but that was eight too many for the hosts. Iqbal took six for 37 for Jimmy Nelson's and T Stephenson four for 30 for Foulridge.

Ingrow St John's made just 106 at home to Chatburn with Colin Bottomley scoring 46 of them. But the visitors were skittled out for 85 with Z Iqbal finishing with four for 19.

In Division Three Barrowford rattled up 225 for five at Haworth (Kevin Parkinson 92no, Kevin Lyons 45 and quire Lavin 40). Then David Berry, six for 25 and John Cant, four for 30, had the Bronte men back in the hut for just 56.

Bradley were hustled out for 70 at home to Long Lee and, despite fine figures of five for 34 from Mick Hall, the Keighley side got home by three wickets.

Alan Johnson was unbeaten on 66 as Sutton reached 137 for three at Chatburn, where the home side got home by four wickets.

Steve Laycock was in the runs again with 48 in Thornton's total of 166 for seven. Skipton CI made a spirited reply with 135, M Seward scoring 30 and Mark Laycock taking four for 26 and Anthony Giles four for 34.

Pendle Forest were too good for Glusburn, veteran Mick Gowling making 68no in a total of 181. Glusburn's Alan Thornley top scored in a reply of 162 with Ajmal Choudry, four for 41, and Brian Snowden, four for 44, doing the damage.

Embsay were faced with a formidable total of 192 for five after David Brunskill hit 68 and Jason Lockley 32 for Oakworth but they got home by seven wickets thanks to Brian Hodgson (76), Paul Barwick (51) and Mark Tucker (47).

Cowling blasted the day's highest score, 323 for four, at Gargrave. Don Moore hit 124, Nick Staveley 76no and veteran Steve Dalby 47. They didn't waste much time in dismissing the home side for 87 with David Sutton taking five for 23.

Carleton, despite fielding a scratch side, beat Ingrow St John's by seven wickets. P Howard scored 38no and Warren Burnett snr 36 chasing a target of 133.

Cononley made just 72 as G Wilkinson took eight wickets for 27 for Denholme. The league newcomers passed that with eight wickets still standing.

Jimmy Nelson's raised a side and were hustled out for 58 by Foulridge, Nigel Hill (six for 31) and Simon Kegg (four for nine) doing the damage.

Foulridge's Mick Gildea hit 40no in a nine wicket victory.

Haworth rattled up 192 at home to Keighley Tech as Mark Elders scored 42 and Malc Dovenor 35. The visitors crumbled to 52 all out.

Airedale were dismissed for 92 and Pendle Forest sneaked home by just one run.

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