THORNTON'S unbeaten Premier Division record in the Spenser Wilson Halifax League disappeared in no uncertain fashion.

Defending champions Booth hit top form for the first time this season, making a daunting 400-3 – led by Rob Laycock, whose 196 not out included 11 sixes and 17 fours.

Opener Jon Midgley made 91 and Richard Laycock, Rob's brother, weighed in with an unbeaten 63 as opening bowlers Josh Hutchinson and Ross Parr each conceded a ton.

Thornton's reply was a healthy 268 but they still lost by 132 runs, with Joshua Hutchinson scoring 91, Nikki Hutchinson 81 and Ross Carnall 49.

Jer Lane disposed of Sowerby St Peter's with relative ease, beating their hosts by 65 runs.

Amjid Khan (59), Johnny Lister (50) and Ian Hall (46) led the way in Jer's 225, having been 37-3, and Kieran Rodgers took 5-59 as St Peter's were restricted to 160, Khan and Simon Collins chipping in with 2-18 and 2-23 respectively.

Queensbury, promoted last season, are propping up the top-flight table after a 184-run defeat at Triangle, who made 318-3. Opener Adam Stocks hit nine sixes and 11 fours in his 140 not out, Tom Fryer (69) and Christian Silkstone (59no) adding to Bury's pain.

The visitors could only make 134 in reply, Mohammed Altaf top-scoring with 39.

Northowram Hedge Top notched their first win of the season at home to Oxenhope, despite a 79-run opening stand between Joshua Fleetwood (78 – five sixes and eight fours) and Tom Mawer (30).

Oxenhope totalled 214, Josh Tetley (37) and Spencer Mawer (21) being part of a wagging tail, but Hedge Top won by five wickets in the 42nd over.

In Division One, second-placed Cullingworth continued their good early-season form by taking maximum points off visitors Great Horton Park Chapel.

Opener Ben Burkill led the way with 92 in Cullingworth's 259-5, adding 93 for the third wicket with Will Rankin (49) before Graham Rankin (26) and Phil Poole Jnr (42no) gave the innings a late boost.

Only four Park Chapel batsmen made double figures in their reply of 107 as Dave Robinson (3-15), Poole (3-20) and Graham Rankin (2-27) held sway.

Shelf had an amazing victory at Southowram, needing 46.4 overs before squeezing a one-wicket win.

The home side were indebted to No 3 Dean Crossley, who held the innings together with 88 not out as Robert Robinson took 7-50 – but the Southowram batsman was outdone by Sadiq Hyder Ali (61no) and Babar Nawaz Malik (49) as Shelf recovered from 11-6 and 87-8.

In Division Two, there was also a fine match at Clayton on Birchencliffe's first visit to The Avenue.

The hosts batted first and, with Tanweer Aslam (100) leading the way, a challenging target of 296 was set.

At 105-6, the Birchencliffe chase appeared dead, but Akshay Potdar (72) and Prashant Kumar (73) had other ideas and, aided by Naeem Mian (38), were disappointed to fall just 12 runs short as Damien Walker took 4-59 and Chris Ramsden 4-77.

Bradshaw kept the pressure on leaders Illingworth St Mary's and Outlane by returning to winning ways at Low Moor HT.

The visitors made 245 but Low Moor were 92-0 via Scott Osbourne (58) and Ryan Williamson (41) before Amy Gibson (5-66) and Jack Ryan (5-40) – the fourth and fifth bowlers used – set up a 28-run victory, despite the efforts of Mark Stokes (66) in the middle order.