Mahir Ali, Olicanian and especially Addingham shared the headlines on the final day of the Aire-Wharfe League season.

After a summer in which they have picked up only five points – three of those from abandoned matches – Addingham found the guts and spirit to end the season with a victory in DIVISION THREE.

Henry Barrow (37), Steve Kuhl (35) and Neil Freeman (31) helped them to 172 before Mike Barber (4-33) and James Kelly (4-17) combined to dismiss Alwoodley for 149.

Olicanian clinched the second promotion spot from the section with a comfortable nine-wicket win over Ben Rhydding.

Steve McCabe (4-29) and Chris Wheeler (3-29) helped bowl out the visitors for 144 and then, after losing a quick wicket, Darren Murray (75no) and Wheeler (88no) saw their side back into Division Two at the first attempt.

But spare a thought for Ilkley, who beat champions Bolton Villas but came up just short of promotion. They won six of their last eight matches but more significantly had two abandoned – one an almost certain win against Alwoodley, the other a shoot-out with Olicanian.

Barry Hawksworth (56no) and Steve Shuttleworth (48no) were the main contributors to Villas’ 181 for three but Nick Cockcroft (65) and Paul Dover (44no) clinched Ilkley’s six-wicket win.

Mahir Ali took three wickets in promoted Thackley’s high-scoring DIVISION TWO draw with Harden to take his season’s tally to 107. That puts him second in league history only to Otley’s A Laycock, who reached 110 in 1937.

To pick up three victims was a feat on a wicket that was clearly good for batsmen. Leon Harber (151) and Darren Kettlewell (51no) relished the conditions as Thackley raced to 315 for six, before Leigh Booth (125no) and Richard Wear (70) joined in the run feast as Harden replied with 256 for six.

Another batsman who deserves special mention is Silsden’s Vivek Mahajan, whose 44 against Rawdon took him to 912 runs in all competitions.

All this in a side who have been vainly fighting relegation from DIVISION ONE all season – and after missing the first three matches of the season!

His effort this week could not deny Rawdon making sure of runners-up spot. After Dave Morgan (6-39) and Andrew Doidge (3-30) restricted Silsden to 134, captain Stewart Smith (58) and Les Gaylard (49no) clinched the seven-wicket win.

Elsewhere in the top flight, Anthony Giles (3-9) and John Brough (3-14) skittled out relegated Calverley for 47 to set up a nine-wicket win for Otley.

Burley were unable to upset champions Beckwithshaw despite an excellent 65 from 18-year-old Ryan Cooper.

But Green Lane ended a five-match losing sequence by beating third-placed North Leeds, Mike Abbott top-scoring with 40.

Ian Chaplin hit 85 as Guiseley passed 200 for only the third time this season on the way to beating Collingham. Dave Pennett (4-20) and Robert Atkinson (3-5) dismissed the visitors for just 39.

Back in DIVISION TWO, Steeton went down to Follifoot and Tong Park Esholt were beaten by champions Pool but Upper Wharfedale overcame Knaresborough comfortably.

Justin Graham starred with a top score of 88 not out and three wickets and there were half-centuries from Andrew Foulds and Chris Nattrass.

Horsforth rounded off their DIVISION THREE season with a win over Menston, Joel Solts hitting a half-century, but neighbours Hall Park were heavily beaten by New Rover.

Andrew Fergie took four wickets as Woodhouse were restricted to 203 for nine, then Steve Carling (101no) and Shahid Nadeem (60) put on 134 for the first wicket to set up a seven-wicket win for Skipton.