Hopton Mills climbed to the top of Division One with a 43-run Central Yorkshire League win over East Ardsley that thwarted the efforts of veteran David Battye, who took 3-35 in his 15 overs for the visitors.

Openers Chris Scott (58) and Mick Carroll (38) got Hopton off to a good start, leaving junior Tahmidul Islam (4-50) to finish the job.

Next up for Hopton is a trip to Bradford to face Buttershaw St Paul’s, who will doubtless find themselves with a tougher task than in their 101-run win at promoted Mirfield.

Kevin McDermott, another junior player, top-scored for Buttershaw with 67 in their 262-7, while the bowling of Pritesh Mistry (4-48) put paid to Mirfield’s challenge.

Sympathies must go to the home side’s Haseeb Hasmi, who took 4-52 and hit a match-best 77 yet still finished on the losing side.

There seems little respite for Mirfield for, having lost ten of their 12 games so far, they now have to go to joint-third Wakefield St Michael’s, who are just six points behind Hopton Mills.

St Michael’s suffered a setback in their promotion bid when they lost by 19 runs at Liversedge.

Sedge once again owed much to left-arm spinner Nigel Doyle, who effectively slowed the St Michael’s charge with 4-57 in his 15 overs after Sean Wilson (85) and skipper Graeme Winn (53no) had helped the home side post 240-7.

Liversedge have the chance to push their own credentials as promotion candidates when they go to Methley A next.

Second-placed Scholes will be keen to bounce back at home to relegation-threatened Ossett A after a surprise defeat at Wakefield Thornes A in their last game.

Birstall’s hit and miss season continued when they crashed to an 84-run defeat at Premier Division bottom club Northowram.

James Byrne (5-77) was the pick of a lacklustre Birstall attack – and their batsmen fared little better as James Keen was one of only three men to pass 20 in their 191 all out.

Carlton visit Leeds Road this weekend, while Batley – who lost to Wrenthorpe by three wickets – now go to Altofts.

Mirfield Parish Cavaliers, seven-wicket losers against leaders Townville despite posting a respectable 233, go to Wrenthorpe, while Ossett – who went down by eight wickets at Methley – now entertain Hunslet Nelson.