Thackley's Aire-Wharfe day of reckoning (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Thackley's Aire-Wharfe day of reckoning

5:41pm Thursday 1st September 2011 in Aire-Wharfe League By Sports Desk

Eleven years after joining the Aire-Wharfe League and just two since winning promotion to the top flight, Thackley stand on the brink of taking the championship for the first time.

Victory over Follifoot on Saturday will keep Thackley at least six points clear of second-placed Kirkstall and, having won more games than their rivals, Leon Harber’s side will not be able to be overtaken no matter what happens when first and second placed teams meet on the final day of the season.

Having dropped only one point in their first five games, Thackley have led the table for all but one week of the season and, inspired by their strike force of Nasser Jamal and Mahir Ali, both of whom have taken more than 50 wickets this season, they have lost only four of their 20 matches so far.

But one of those was against Follifoot!

The Harrogate side dismissed Thackley for a season-low 94 at Ainsbury Avenue in June so Harber’s men will be taking nothing for granted until the points are in the bag.

One thing they will be sure of is that Kirkstall will not give up until it’s mathematically certain they can’t snatch the crown and with Kevin Bennett and Jos Siddall in outstanding form they will expect to stretch a run that has seen them drop only three points in nine games when they travel to already relegated Rawdon.

Green Lane are still only five points clear of Adel who currently fill the second relegation spot but have a winnable match against Collingham. Lane take on a Bilton side that has lost five of their last seven starts but who beat them by 105 runs earlier in the season.

One of the most entertaining games could be at Guiseley where Otley are the visitors. Both sides were in with a shout of the title until recently and when they met earlier in the season, Otley edged a four-wicket win in a match of nearly 500 runs.

Having taken 19 wickets in the last four matches, Dan Meredith doesn’t want the season to end but he has a chance to extend his hot spell when Burley seek to do the double over Beckwithshaw.

Steeton and Ben Rhydding have already clinched promotion from Division Two, but the title is still up for grabs and is likely to go to the final game with both sides expected to win tomorrow.

Ben Rhydding face Tong Park Esholt, who are already relegated, while Steeton entertain Harden who have won three of their last four but struggled against the top teams.

The fight to avoid the second relegation spot sees Menston, who currently fill it, take on Calverley who are four points above them and will be aware that Menston won a high-scoring match when they met earlier in the season with John Storey hitting a century.

Both will be looking at the result from North Leeds where visitors Upper Wharfedale could still drop down.

Bolton Villas entertain Olicanian hoping to complete the double over their opponents.

Having cruelly fallen five points behind second placed Colton when their match was rained off last week, Ilkley have a chance to make up the ground if they can beat Silsden.

With Colton facing runaway leaders Bardsey, who would set a new league points record with victory, Ilkley could well find themselves back in second spot.

Illingworth, who take on Skipton, and Woodhouse, who meet Hall Park, have an outside chance of snatching second and anything less than victory for Park will ensure they have to apply for re-election. But with Faheem Bedford having picked up 21 wickets in three games, a shock win cannot be ruled out.

Addingham should win at bottom club Adel while Horsforth will expect to make it four wins from five starts when they entertain struggling New Rover.