Thornton off foot of table after shocking Ingrow St John’s

Luke Scothern made 40 as Thornton posted 176. Saints then slipped to 103-7 against Jack Laycock (4-47) and Mark Laycock (4-86) and although number nine Sarum Farooq gave them hope with a battling 49, they were finally all out for 163.

It means Saints are now six points behind leaders Oakworth, who were involved in another close finish after clinging on for a draw the previous week.

This time they scraped to a one-wicket win at Foulridge, who made 175-9 (S Woods 70) before Jack Hainsworth (52) guided the Cure Hill side home to counter the efforts of John Lambert (5-14).

Bingley Congs moved level on points with St John’s after getting the better of Embsay in a high-scoring game.

A superb opening partnership of 204 by Mick Brooksbank (125) and Andrew Copping (75) set Congs on the way to 271-8 (Scott Robinson 5-74).

Duncan Ward then hit 82 for Embsay but they finished short on 223-7.

Also level in second place are Haworth Road after they hung on to beat visiting Crossflatts by nine runs.

Feyaz Akram claimed 7-56 to restrict the hosts to 169 but although Amer Ayub made 64 in reply, ’Flatts subsided to 160 all out.

Cullingworth saw off Haworth by 24 runs after reaching an impressive 229-3 thanks to a fine unbroken stand by Steve Welch (104no) and Chris Welch (50no). Nick Trowers hit a belligerent 61 in Haworth’s 205 reply.

Barrowford dropped to the foot of the table as they lost at home to Bradley by 19 runs.

Bradley made 154 (J Khan 6-41) and the Bull Holme side’s response was blunted by new recruit Phil Binner (5-61) and evergreen Tim Rudden (4-44) as they were all out for 135 (W Ali 56).

Division Two leaders Riddlesden smashed 288-9 at home to Ingrow, with M Shanawaz hitting a magnificent 131 and number nine M Zulfiqar 39. The visitors battled away and closed on 202, with Alan Broadley (41) top scoring as Zulfiqar finished with 4-40.

Two points behind the leaders, poised for any slip-up, are Cowling. They were at home to Long Lee and, batting first, made 174-7, with Mark Adams scoring 40. The Golden View side slumped to 127, despite 50 from skipper Paul Stowell, as Martyn Dalby finished with 6-84.

Barrowford Seconds and Oakworth Seconds move level with Ingrow in third spot.

The former side were at Denholme and crept home by six runs. The Bull Holme outfit made 179 (S Butt 58) as under-15s player Matt Wear took 7-29. The Bradford Road innings closed on 173-9, with T Greenwood making 48 and J Khan taking 4-61.

Oakworth Seconds entertained Glusburn Seconds and rattled up 194-7, with Ben Fothergill making 62 as Nick Williamson claimed 4-79. The Park Field were dismissed for 133, Michael Davison taking 4-40 and Jack Ellis 4-42.

Pendle Forest travelled to Sutton and found them in uncharitable mood. The Fence side scored 151-9 as Ben Bolland claimed 5-51 and Justin Holdsworth bowled through to finish with 4-64. The Royd Mill team then roared home by nine wickets, with Craig Thornton making 73 not out.

Airedale remain firmly anchored to the foot of the table, five points adrift of Long Lee. They entertained Wilsden and made a creditable 174-6. The Windy Grove side reached their target in the 30th over to win by seven wickets led by Dave Kirby (61).

Sandy Lane regained top spot in Division Three after they beat Bradford & Bingley Thirds at Wagon Lane and Chatburn lost at Penistone Park.

The Greenwood Park outfit hit 241-8 in their overs, led by skipper Mark Oldfield (98no) assisted by Steve Carass (50) and A Blackburn (55). The home side replied with a creditable 199, Iqbal scoring 69 as Chris Mitchell took 6-71.

Haworth WE were wobbling at 99-6 before some tail-wagging got them to 162. Earlier Joe Alvey made 68 as S Bowker took 5-46 and Andy Booth 4-63. The Ribble Valley side slumped to 103 all out, Corey Benfield taking 6-45.

Crossflatts Seconds hosted Gargrave and posted 171-6, with John Gath making 56. The visitors stormed home by five with led by Lee Barrett, who finished on 96 not out.

Wilsden Seconds hammered 243-8 at home to Haworth Road Seconds, with S Mahmood scoring 60 as Nick Griggs took 5-64. Mahmood then bowled an incredible 8.1-over spell to finish with 6-5, which included six maidens, as the Baildon Bottom side crashed to 87 all out.

Cononley’s trip to Embsay proved to be fruitful as they recorded a 16-run victory. Going first, the visitors made 181, with Tim Starkey hitting 65 as Simon Holt took 5-56.

As long as Jonathan Coward was at the wicket, the Shires Lane side were in with a chance of taking the points. However, he was out for 84 and the innings fizzled out for 165 as Andrew Starkey took 5-29.

Ingrow St John’s must have been confident of defending the 265-8 they amassed at Street Lane. For the home side, M Ali Raza made 78 and Naeem Ali 73 as Arnold Raistrick took 4-78 and Simon Timperley 3-80. Timperley then took up the bat to power visitors Eldwick & Gilstead home by five wickets with two overs to spare, hitting hit 95 not out after Alfie Raistrick had made 60.

Skipton CI head Division Four after a crushing 195-run victory over Bradley Seconds in South Craven. Paul Mason (60no), John Stuttard (54) and Martin Seward (52) saw the visitors rattle up 242-6. Stuttard (6-25) and Sean Williamson (4-22) then had the home side back in the hut for just 57.

Riddlesden Seconds remain second, seven points adrift, after they saw off Haworth Seconds by four wickets in Bronte Land. Steady batting helped the homesters to a solid 187-6. Opener David Henson then made 76 to see the Grange Road side to the spoils in the 39th over.

Cullingworth Seconds are third after a 19-run victory over Pendle Forest Seconds at Victory Park. Tahir Zaman took 6-28 off 17.3 overs for the Fence side, while Will Rankin took 5-12 off 3-4 for the victors.

Level with Cullingworth Seconds are Glusburn Seconds, who saw off Thornton Seconds at Park Field. Two old war horses – Bryan Hollis (5-40) and Rummy Smith (3-44) – restricted the visitors to 116-9. The home side took 26 overs to reach the winning post.

Martin Gilmartin (50no) helped Long Lee Seconds to 141-9 at Golden View, with I Misra taking 4-42. Visitors Airedale Seconds powered to a nine-wicket victory thanks to Warren Coppack (66no) and Paul Feather (53no), who put on an undefeated 132.

Ben Pursy was dismissed for 98 as Ingrow Seconds smashed 248-9 at home to Bingley Congs Seconds, who replied with 159 as Bill Marshall scored 53.

Division Five leaders Oakworth Thirds were in fine fettle on their visit to Cononley Seconds. The homesters were restricted to 133-9. Sam Nettleton (80no) led the successful reply for an eight-wicket victory.

Second-placed Denholme Seconds crashed to an eight-wicket defeat at Gargrave Seconds. The visitors were hustled out for 63, with Stuart Weatherall taking 6-31 and Rob Storr 4-31. Russ Nixon was 33 not out for the home side at the close.

Joining Denholme Seconds in second place are Foulridge Seconds and Sutton Seconds.

The former had a free week, while the latter were at Skipton CI Seconds and beat them by 39 runs. The visitors made 140 and the home side closed on 101, with K Booker taking 8-33.

Haworth WE Seconds posted 117 at Sandy Lane Seconds, James Dennison taking 5-36. The Greenwood Park side were reduced to 21-5 before Riswan Ali pulled things around and set up a three-wicket win. Ali finished on 62 not out as Pete Hatton took 4-35.

Chatburn Seconds turned in an abysmal batting performance at home to Cowling Seconds. They were shot out for 48 by S Bygrave (6-14) and J Ackroyd (4-27), before the Keighley Road side coasted home by ten wickets.