It’s as you were at the top of the Craven League as the two protagonists for the DIVISION ONE title both won to carry the race into the penultimate week.

Oakworth, leaders by four points, were put in at Barrowford and struggled to 128, with Michael Scarborough top-scoring on 38 as Dave Flounders claimed 5-21. The Cure Hill side then shot the Bull Holme team out for 81, with Matt House taking 3-12.

Meanwhile, Cullingworth were at home to a Haworth outfit bereft of the Rowell brothers and Reece White.

The Bronte side battled their way to 147-9, A Coatsworth making 46 and Omar Khatab finishing with 4-37. Haworth’s lightweight attack was savaged by the Roydwood Terrace batsmen, who cruised to an eight-wicket victory led by Gareth Marshall (82) and Steve Welch (54no).

A distant third are Haworth Road, who despatched Thornton for 162 – of which the in-form Dave Scothern made 72 and Mark Paxton 42 as N Gata-Aura claimed 6-52. This was in reply to the Baildon Bottom side’s 185, Chris Griggs hitting 62 as Paxton completed a fine all-round effort with 5-45.

Bingley Congs endured a bad day at the office at home to Crossflatts, despite their promising start when Mick Brooksbank was out second ball.  There was controversy at 26-1 when Amer Ayub was caught at fine leg by second-teamer Graeme Love but, in taking the catch, he was adjudged to have stepped onto the boundary line and the umpires awarded a six.

Crossflatts never looked back as Ayub made 44 before a key fourth-wicket stand between Brian Freimanis (66no) and ‘Cammi’ Ayub (70) took the visitors to 224-7.

Congs never got going in reply, despite 40 from Tom Keighley, as Cammi Ayub took 4-18 to help reduce Bingley to 126 all out.

Fourth-bottom Bradley were defeated at home to third-bottom Embsay by six wickets.

Host skipper Neil Andrews hit a sparking 95 as his side posted 165-6 but the Shires Laners built on an opening partnership of 54 to reach the winning post in the 38th over. Jonathan Coward made 42 and David Wellock 40.

Bradley drop into the relegation spot after that defeat and Cowling’s 105-run victory over already-relegated Cononley at Keighley Road.

A 98-run third-wicket stand between Martin Dalby (74) and Steve Mitchell (59) helped the home side post 217-9, with Billy Pinder taking 4-55 and Matthew Hayes 3-84. But the visitors crumpled to 113 in reply as S Hassan took 5-47 and Dalby 4-30.

Sutton edged two points ahead of DIVISION TWO rivals Ingrow in the battle to clinch the second promotion spot behind champions-elect Airedale.

While Ingrow’s game at Embsay Seconds was abandoned due to a flooded square, the Royd Hill side struggled to the points at home to Riddlesden.

Sutton skipper Simon Doane led the way with an excellent spell of bowling, taking 7-39 as the Grange Road side were dismissed for 112.

After a bright start of 54 for the first wicket, the home side battled their way to 88-7 as the innings was poised on a knife edge. Up stepped Tony Walton (20no) and Justin Holdsworth (9no) to take their side to the target in the 39th over.

Airedale travelled to Wilsden where one of their lesser lights, Joe Milner, top-scored with 61 as Adrian Stafford-Bennett took 4-52. The Windy Grove side were dismissed for 127, with Dave Henson making 58no.

Five teams could mathematically join Embsay Seconds in relegation and Glusburn helped their cause when they hammered Sandy Lane by eight wickets .

Pendle Forest also gathered three valuable points when they saw off Long Lee at Fence. The Golden View side made a reasonable 155, Paul Stowell hitting 49 and Richard Ayrton 32 as Peter Hakin took 4-32.

The hosts reached their target with just three balls and three wickets to spare. Skipper Nigel Hargreaves was the hero with a fighting 52 not out, aided by 39 from John Cant. Jamie Robinson finished with 4-45 off 16.3 overs.

Foulridge leapfrogged Chatburn after thrashing them by nine wickets at Noyna. Mark Nerenberg made 47 as the Ribble Valley side mustered 153. Then Chris Gildea (57no) and David Spokes (89) ensured the home side picked up the points.

Oakworth Seconds have one hand on the DIVISION THREE title after they saw off Gargrave and second-placed Ingrow St John’s surprisingly went down by six wickets at Crossflatts Seconds.

The Wide Lane side were wallowing at 73-7 before an eighth-wicket stand of 103 rescued the cause, with Jack Ellis making 63 and Ollie Stell 46 to push the total to 193. Then Ian Jackson (6-44) and Corey Goostrey (4-42) had the visitors all out for 88.

The usually free-scoring Saints were dismissed for just 107. Mick Bailey took 2-21 before following up with a match-winning 42 in the successful reply.

A fourth-wicket partnership of 95 by Martin Rendell (72) and A Partington (73no) saw Cullingworth Seconds make 236-7 at Glusburn, with Paul McCullough taking 4-42. The already-relegated Park Field side made a decent fist of their reply with 219-8 as Steve Brown made 53 and Phil Shackleton 47.

Denholme crashed 301-6 at Cononley Seconds, largely thanks to Neil Spencer making 107 not out, as Joel Grainger took 4-84. The latter then made 75 not out in his side’s reply of 138-9.

John Drake was Skipton CI’s hero as his side beat Eldwick & Gilstead by 47 runs. He made 24 as the Sandylands side posted a modest 96, with Alfred Raistrick taking 3-14 and Andy Maude 3-23. Then Drake took 5-11 off 15.3 overs to go with John Stuttard’s 4-14 as the Dick Hudson’s side were despatched for just 49.

There was a tremendous scrap at Penistone were Haworth WE got home by just one run against Haworth Road Seconds.

Joe Holt (55) and Andy Holt (51) helped the Bronte side to 164-9, with S Khan taking 4-47. In reply, Will Forest top-scored with 36 as O Palmer took 5-53. The visitors’ last three wickets went down with only five required for victory.

There is still a three-way tussle at the top of DIVISION FOUR as all the contenders collected three points.

Leaders Ingrow St John’s Seconds were in cracking form as they plundered 280-7 at home to Wilsden Seconds. The Windy Grove side managed 150 in response.

Second-placed Barrowford Seconds received a walkover when Ingrow Seconds conceded the game as they were unable to raise a side.

Third-placed Little Marsden got the Cowling Cup final defeat out of their system by scoring a majestic 340-7 at home to Sandy Lane Seconds. A Akbar led the way with a sparkling 135, aided by Seroze Hussain (59). The Greenwood Park side replied with 149, T Rana notching 50 as Shoaib Ashraf took 5-60.

Riddlesden Seconds received three points when Bradford & Bingley Thirds were unable to raise a side.

Pendle Forest Seconds are 20 points further back. They are one of eight clubs separated by just four points in the relegation battle. The Fence side beat Long Lee Seconds by 36 runs at Golden View.

Chatburn Seconds moved a point above Bradley Seconds after seeing them off by seven wickets. The South Craveners slumped to 75 all out in the face of fine bowling by Paul Shorrock (7-35). S Duckworth (34no) was the backbone of the reply.

The battle for the DIVISION FIVE title is between Haworth Seconds and Airedale Seconds, who are separated by just two points.

In the Bronte derby, Haworth WE Seconds were knocked over for 52, dynamic bowling duo Derek Bright (4-24) and Dave Walsh (4-27) doing the damage for Haworth Seconds in a ten-wicket victory.

Airedale Seconds restricted ten-man Cowling Seconds to 97 as Alan Hayes took 4-21. Two veterans took the honours in the reply as Trevor Cox carried his bat with 48 not out and Ray Jones took 4-42 in 21 overs, Airedale winning by five wickets.

Third-placed Bingley Congs Seconds had a keen tussle with Oakworth Thirds before winning by just 11 runs.