8:27pm Tuesday 31st August 2010
By Sports Desk
Corey Jacobs and Craig Thornton threw Silsden an Aire-Wharfe League lifeline and created a nail-biting final two weeks for the whole of the bottom half of DIVISION TWO.
Jacobs produced a spell of 6-48 to restrict Knaresborough to 165-9 and Thornton hit an undefeated 62 to steer Silsden to their third win of the season and off the bottom.
Calverley boosted their own chances of surviving the drop by taking four points at Illingworth, who go bottom. Andrew Alred (65) top-scored in Calverley’s 211-8 and tight bowling from Shane Franklin and Zarshad Khan had the home side struggling at 162-9 at the close.
So with 12 points up for grabs, the bottom four reads: Illingworth (35 points), Silsden (39), Calverley (43) and Knaresborough (45).
Bolton Villas are four points from safety after beating Upper Wharfedale by six wickets, with Sam Lawrence taking 8-64 in 17 overs and Steve Shuttleworth hitting a half-century.
Tong Park Esholt also need another four points after they lost to Follifoot, despite the efforts of Nadeem Hanif (45) and Fawad Maqsood (33).
That meant Follifoot took over top spot from Bilton after Steeton took four points off them in a high-scoring match. John Akrigg (117no) and Neil Spragg (104) starred as Steeton smashed 269-4 and, despite some lively batting, the home side slipped off the top for the first time since June 5.
Olicanian are the only side with a chance of catching the top two after they defeated one-time leaders Harden by seven wickets.
Eddie Brown (4-48), Bernard Hughes (3-66) and Charlie Wheeler (2-17) kept Harden down to 141-9, despite a spirited 29 not out from number ten Rob Verity. Wheeler (49) then set the foundations of victory and Sean Collings (38no) and Brown (53no) saw Olicanian to their fourth win out of five starts.
Burley go into this weekend’s PREMIER DIVISION showdown with second-placed Beckwithshaw boasting a seven-point cushion after beating Thackley by three wickets.
Jason Wright (4-36) helped bowl out Thackley for 136 and even though Mahir Ali followed up a top-score of 37 with four wickets, Nick Brook (49no) clinched victory for the leaders.
Beckwithshaw are not giving up their title without a fight and made short work of third-placed Green Lane.
After some shaky weeks, Rawdon sprang back to form and boosted their chances of avoiding relegation by beating North Leeds, who are confirmed as down.
Jamie Pickering crashed 16 fours and three sixes in an unbeaten 110 as Rawdon set a target of 225-6, then off-spinner Andrew Doidge (5-18) and Stuart Dobson (3-52) dismissed the visitors for 149.
Inconsistent Guiseley had one of their good days, inflicting only the second defeat on Otley in the last nine games. Chris Wain’s third five-wicket haul restricted Otley to 155-9 and Calum Fraser (63) and Dave Pennett (50) led the successful run race.
It is still too close to call in the DIVISION THREE promotion race after all three at the top won.
Nick Smith (4-35) and Adam Flegg (3-16) skittled out Woodhouse for 73 and Charlie Swallow (54no) clinched victory for Ben Rhydding, who are five points clear at the summit.
Andrew Wheeler (5-37) restricted Hall Park to 132-9 and an opening stand of 101 between Rory Kroon (61no) and Terry Pattinson (45) made sure Ilkley picked up full points.
But they are only ahead of Menston on games won after Nick Thornton (43) and Andrew Morgan (40no) helped them to 239-5 and Ben Purvis (6-33) and Chris Baldwin (3-28) skittled out Alwoodley for 69.
Andrew Robinson had a day to remember as Horsforth beat Skipton by 102 runs, hitting a century and taking 7-56.
Despite 49 from Darrell Robinson, Addingham were still 15 runs short of victory at the close against New Rover and had to settle for two points.
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