Cricket: Craven League

The oaks are just two points behind Embsay with everything to play for. This weekend Oakworth face a tough local derby at Haworth, while Embsay are at Sutton's Royd Hill ground.

Last weekend Oakworth entertained Bradley and saw them make a respectable 189-6, John Brearley was the cornerstone of the innings with 82. The Cure Hill side shrugged off the total as they cruised to a seven wicket victory in the 40th over, Steve Lilley making 79 and Michael Scarborough 54 not out.

Embsay travelled to Thornton who notched up 177-9. David Holt and Kevin Pollard opened brightly with 80- for the first wicket, the good work being continued by Brian Laycock (24) and Richard Craddock (23).

The Shires Lane side made steady progress to their target which was reached in the 39th over for the loss of five wickets. Skipper James Tiffany led the way with 50, assisted by Alan Pickles 36 and Paul Barwick 34.

Upper Wharfedale's challenge slipped away when they were beaten by Barrowford. The Dalesmen made 163 with Kevin Holme leading the way on 48. Neil Hargreaves scored 77 not out and Chris Hartley 32 as the Bull Holme side won by seven wickets.

Bottom two, Foulridge and Cowling met in South Craven, with the Lancashire side coming away with the spoils as they opened up a four point gap. Foulridge made 237-4 thanks mainly to James Lickess (70) and Fred Brooker-Carey (41 not out). Tom Stephenson took 6-87 in a real do-or-die battle as only one side will be relegated this year.

Sutton found the going touch at Carleton where they were dismissed for 81. Chris Isherwood rescued them with a timely knock of 38 as Peter Wrathmell took 4-34 and Ian Bell 4-44. The home side cruised home by eight wickets.

Haworth took the honours against Pendle forest after they set a target of 204 with Stuart Ratcliffe making 79, F Sardar 34 and Damian Rowell 33. Paul Hakin finished with 5-12 off six overs.

The home side struggled as they tumbled to 153 all out, Peter Atkinson making 41 with Jamie rowell the most successful bowler with 3-37.

Leaders of the Second Division, Skipton CI beat Gargrave, but no details are available.

Long Lee are just one point behind and kept up their chase with a comprehensive victory over Barnoldswick. The Keighley side made a modest 139-8 with Alan Copney top scoring on 37. The Victory Park side were simply terrible, and were shot out for 54, Chris Taylor taking 5-17.

Bottom club Keighley Tech recorded their third win of the campaign at Jimmy Nelson's. The Red Rose side were hustled out for 54 with T Mahmood taking 4-2. The Yorkshire lads then cantered to a fine nine wicket win with z Mahmood and Shaun Taylor scoring 24 and 24no respectively.

Chatburn were too good for visitors Glusburn, winning by 31 runs. The Ribblesdale side made a moderate 147-6, S Proctor top scoring with 40 as Steve Filkin claimed 3-26. The South Craveners then suffered at the hands of Richard Shovelton who claimed six victims for 18 runs. Only Craig Watts (37) prevented a more emphatic defeat.

Cononley rattled up 171 at home to Airedale with Colin Stead scoring 57 as Matthew Cox took 4-36. The latter then made 51 as his side cruised home by five wickets, Trevor Cox making 45.

Haworth WE were just 13 runs too good for visitors Ingrow St John's. the home side made 153 of which Lee Bilbrough contributed 44 as David Clough took 5-75. The Saints made 140 with Rod Scarborough scoring 54 and Colin Dyson 42. Jason Bilbrough took 5-64.

Third Division leaders, Bradley, had to put the champagne on ice as they came a cropper at home to oakworth. they made 175-6 batting first with Martin Banks making 55 and Nigel Bibby 31 not out. The Cure Hill side sneaked home by the narrow margin of one wicket with Jason Lockley clattering 74 not out and Wayne Fradley 32. Mick Hall tried in vain with the ball and finished with 6-49.

Embsay kept alive their faint hopes of snatching the title by seeing off nine-man Thornton at Shires Lane. Batting first the home side plundered 215-9 with skipper Alan Robinson making 51, Derek Robinson 44no, David Barrett 41 and Chris Baker 37. David Sharples bowled through to finish with 5-95.

M Foster (31), top scored in the reply of 138-7, Mick Hirst taking 5-43.

Jago Bean took 7-24 as visitors Barrowford crashed to 69 all out at Upper Wharfedale. The Wood Laners cruised home by nine wickets with Richard Foster scoring 53 not out.

Sutton banished some of their relegation fears when they accounted for joint bottom Haworth West End by 64 runs.The South Craven side made 123 of which Danny Brown scored 57. In the reply of 59 Andy Elrick took 6-35.

Glusburn must have been fairly confident of getting the points when they reached 177-9 at home to Chatburn, Mick Baxter making 54 and veteran George Garland 48. However, the visitors dashed to a four wicket win thanks to A Simpson with 59, G Clarkson 43no and M Pearce 40.

Haworth got the better of visitors Pendle Forest by 30 runs. The Bronte side made 177-9 with Les Jones making 79. In the reply of 147, Peter Mawdsley made a fine 91.

Fourth Division champions Long Lee secured the title in fine style at home to Pendle Forest III. they allowed the visitors to reach 212-7, S Turpin making 38, veteran David Hall (38) and M Holdsworth 36. In the successful reply Richard Granger made 89 and Richard Ayrton 86no to see the Keighley side to the points by seven wickets.

Skiptoin CI are assured of second place and promotion. They restricted Gargrave to 104-9 with Ian Holden taking 5-56 and M Khalil 3-41 as John Spensley top scored on 45. S Walker led the reply with 40 not out and the Skipton side reached a winning total with just three wickets down.

Carleton came away from Ingrow St John's with the points, winning by 31 runs. Nev Allen scored 88 as the villagers reached 160-8. For the Saints Barry Wood make 39 as Anthony Haigh put the skids under them by taking 7-53.

Bottom side Keighley Tech recorded their second win in fine style at home to Jimmy Nelson's. The visitors made a creditable 157 with S Grimshaw (54) top scoring. The Rose Cottage side cruised to an impressive eight-wicket win with the evergreen Stan Adams scoring 79 and S Pall 80no, Adams also took 3-12.

Foulridge lost out to eight-man Cowling at Noyna. The home side were bowled out for 109 with Bob Richardson taking 4-18 including a hat-trick. Ian Watson led the successful reply with 57.

Cononley scored 155 at Airedale with P Starkey leading the way on 34. The Keighley side reached their target for the loss of three wickets, building on an opening partnership of 116 by David Mills (55) and Alec Ratcliffe (47).

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