SKIPPER Andrew Doidge led from the front as Rawdon took a giant step towards Aire-Wharfe League Division One safety and all but ended Burley’s hopes of snatching the championship from Otley.

Doidge (40no) and Ryan Gladwin (41) were the main contributors to Rawdon’s 176. He then picked up 4-58 and, with a fine spell from Nathan Goldthorp (3-11), dismissed Burley for 152, Tom Day (52) being the most effective batsman.

Meanwhile, Otley were romping to victory at Steeton and now only need eight points to be certain of being champions. James Davies (7-29) and James Wilcock (3-30) skittled out Steeton for 77 of which No 8 Jonathan Best made 21 not out. It took only 16.1 overs for the visitors to complete the win.

Ben Rhydding’s relegation could be confirmed next weekend after they managed only 129 in reply to Beckwithshaw’s 230-6, despite the efforts of Brad Ranford (48).

Pool, beaten by Collingham, are favourites to join them but no-one in the bottom half of the table are yet safe, including Guiseley, who were beaten for the second week in a row and are now hovering only 13 points above the drop zone.

They came up against Jonathan Hughes in top form for Ilkley. He hit an unbeaten 124 and enjoyed stands in the 90s with Ian Chaplin (29) and James Pearson (55no) as Ilkley eased to 235-4.

Peter Towner (37) and Joe Reed (25) briefly raised Guiseley hopes with a half-century stand but with Nick Cockcroft and Will Spivey each picking up three cheap wickets, the visitors were dismissed for 147.

Like Rawdon, Thackley produced a vital win in their relegation struggle, beating Division Two promotion hopefuls Colton.

Jack Young (4-45) and Andrew Stothart (5-17) dismissed the home side for 163 before Young (74no) steered Thackley to victory.

But a three-wicket win by Upper Wharfedale over Harden means Thackley still have only a six-point cushion over Wharfedale and Skipton, who are currently locked on 159 points in the second relegation spot.

Bolton Villas battled against Adel but are definitely downl. Michael Clarke picked up five wickets and Steve Shuttleworth four as Adel were restricted to 199 but, despite the efforts of Tony Jones (70), Villas fell ten short of victory.

Skipton came close to pulling off the biggest shock of the day after Andrew Fergie (5-38) and Shahid Nadeem (3-37) bowled out league leaders Follifoot for 116.

Skipton edged towards victory but the turning point came when the ninth-wicket partnership between Graham Summersgill and Jayanta Mukherjee was ended, Paul Angove, despite being at full stretch, running out Mukherjee.

Follifoot and North Leeds, winners at Tong Park Esholt, are now favourites to go up after Green Lane’s challenge was dented at Knaresborough. Lane’s batting failed for once and their 124 total was comfortably passed.

Andrew Robinson followed up last week’s 6-17 with a 6-10 spell as Division Three leaders Horsforth dismissed Menston for 42 in reply to their own 184, which included a half-century from Bailey Worcester.

Ali Long (67) top-scored as Calverley ended Addingham’s seven-match winning streak, while Jonathan Postle (4-38) and James Carlill (4-19) bowled out Alwoodley for 120 to set up a six-wicket win for Hall Park.

Despite some fine bowling from Bernard Hughes (4-40) and Syed Hashmi (5-34), Olicanian still went down to defeat at Bardsey, but Zarshad Khan’s 6-42 spell set up Silsden’s victory over Woodhouse.