Thornton eyeing first Halifax League Premier Division title

Visitors Oxenhope had the oddest looking scorecard of the season, with the tea ladies on high alert as their first six batsmen managed 10 between them.

However, No 7 Joe Ousey produced a quickfire 97 and No 9 Duncan Tetley 48, adding 70, and last man Tom Marshall (18no) was the only other player to reach double figures as they recovered from 13-6 to make 191 (Bradley Weatherhead 4-40, Ross Parr 3-45)

It wasn't enough to deny Thornton though as Ben Burkill (70no) led the way to maximum points – just as he was signed to do.

Third-placed Warley moved to within a point of Booth and, with all four fixtures played against the top two, are not out of the title race by any means.

However, they could only manage ten points at a stubborn Shelf Northowram Hedge Top and will need maximums to have any real chance.

Matthew Whitworth (148no) was their star as he posted the majority of a 290-6 score.

Hedge Top were peg backed throughout their innings and, while losing less wickets, could not match the scoring rate, Oliver Hemingway (59no) and co settling for four points at 223-5.

There was more good news for the leaders when third-from-bottom Copley, having another poor season by their own standards, gave themselves and Thornton a massive lift with a surprisingly comprehensive win over second- placed Booth by 132 runs at The Arches.

Alex Blagborough was unlucky to be caught out three short of his ton, and he and Oliver Thorpe (86no) enjoyed the unusual sight of Booth bowlers toiling in the sun.

In the visitors' reply, when the scoreboard showed 3-3, the writing was on the wall and 50-5 was little better.

Only Rick Laycock (44) showed any metal as Joshua Wrigley (5-83) produced a spell that could well be the saviour for Copley’s top-flight status.

Southowram is now in serious relegation trouble as they lost for the 12th time this season – on this occasion at home to SBCI.

Sympathy goes to Dean Crossley, who has battled all season with very little support.

His 91 again proved the majority in a 161 total, but SBCI had little difficulty in knocking off the runs, Lewis Firth (62no) and Thomas Wood (60) laying the foundation for a nine-wicket win with a 99-run opening partnership.

The Rams, lying 11th, are now 20 points adrift of Copley, with a doomed Bridgeholme a further 30 points in arrears. The latter were despatched by a massive 313-run margin at Triangle as Carl Fletcher (185) hit the third-highest score of the year.

Chris Metcalf (93) was yet another to perish just short of a century, and the Eastwood side had no answer as six Triangle bowlers shared the wickets in 107 all out.

In the First Division promotion race, Illingworth St Mary’s stole a march on Great Horton Park Chapel by recording a 12-3 victory and, at the same time, putting 25 points between them and the now third-placed team.

St Mary’s scored 213, with No 7 Andrew Dixon (62) top-scoring.

In reply, Park Chapel had no real answer to the bowling of Jamie Moorhouse (6-47) as he ripped through the top order, with the scoreboard lurching from 20-0 to 24-4 in little time as the visitors endured a miserable afternoon and all out for 89.

The Clayton v Queensbury derby went the home team’s way by 45 runs, the man-of-the-match proving to be Clayton all-rounder Jason Gelder with 92 and 4-29.

Ryan Senior scored 73 for the visitors but, batting at No 6, he ran out of partners and was forced to hit out, being ninth back in the tent with defeat looming.

Sowerby Bridge moved into second, seven points clear of third place.

Visiting Blackley, the home team scored a well-below-par 146 as only Adam Turner (53) and Ibbi Mir (40) showed anything like respectable form, with eight batsmen failing to reach double figures.

The Bridge too struggled at one stage, losing three wickets in quick succession, but James Holdsworth (59no) righted the ship to earn maximum points, despite the efforts of Jacob Linsel (4-36).

Bottom team Stones produced a much improved performance at home to Bradshaw, especially Jack Collins with an inspired 132, being well supported by Kevin O’Rourke (82no) in a 280-5 total.

Alas it was not enough as Bradshaw’s Connor Ryan replicated the effort of Collins with 130, three other batsmen supporting him by scoring 30-odd runs apiece.

Ryan was out with just five required but he had ensured the ten points.

The Second Division championship race changed complexion a little as Luddendenfoot managed an excellent win at rivals Bradley & Colnebridge to elevate themselves into second place, 12 points behind Mount.

The leaders, by 12 points, were in the runs again, hitting 381-8 at Cullingworth, but delivered another odd-looking scorecard.

Their first six batsmen recorded 93 to be followed by numbers seven, eight and nine amassing a further 264!

Zahoor Munaf (124), Ismail Mayat (73) and Fakir Laher (67) are clearly batting too low in the order.

Lowly Cullingworth had no real batting answer and were all out for 136, but their bowler Michael Bright deserves special mention, showing real guts, character and massive determination in his figures of 18-2-153-4.

The Foot despatched B&C for only 155, with five bowlers sharing the wickets, and with Thomas Hosker (56), combining with several batting partners, they gained maximum points.

Third-placed Upper Hopton kept up the promotion pressure, despite being temporarily renamed Stainland Nomads, and Buxton Lane held no fears as Old Town were well beaten by 119 runs.

Ian Wightman (64) led the way for Hopton but spare a thought for Town’s Jahinger Khan’s, whose 7-49 was hardly backed up by his batsmen as they slipped to 101, Edward Kay responding in kind with 7-73.

Perhaps the best performance of the day came from Low Moor HT, whose short trip down the motorway to Outlane brought an excellent three-wicket win.

The home side, with opener Alan Davies (115) hitting a fine century, assisted by Chris Brook (59), scored a challenging 287.

The Moor were up for it, however, and despite James Overend (98no) missing out on a century, when the winning runs were scored, will have enjoyed the journey home, with Mark Stokes (78) also making a vital contribution.

In the match at Leymoor, all 20 wickets fell as the home side overcame Greetland by 36 runs.

Mark Coulson (58) and Pierce Walker (6-40) were in fine form for the home as was Damien Reynolds (yet again) with 63 and Hizar Hyatt (43) for Greetland, but the home team prevailed.