Ben Rhydding pounce to pinch Division Two title from Steeton's grasp (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Ben Rhydding pounce to pinch Division Two title from Steeton's grasp

4:40pm Tuesday 13th September 2011 in Aire-Wharfe League By Sports Desk

The final day of the Aire Wharfe League season produced plenty of drama.

Steeton and Ben Rhydding had known for a couple of weeks that they will be playing in Division One next season but there was still the matter of the Division Two title to be decided.

Steeton had led the table since May 14 but having dropped points in the last two weeks, went into their final match at Pool leading their rivals by just two points.

John Best produced a 6-61 spell and skittled out Pool’s top three quickly but couldn’t prevent the middle order taking the home side to 217-9.

Shane McNamara led the reply but was trapped lbw on 48, just 21 runs short of 1,000 for the season, and after that only Mark Taylor (38) and Andy Luxton (30) got into double figures as Steeton were dismissed for 152.

Ben Rhydding, only promoted from Division Three last season, seized their chance. Redmond Bolton (76) top-scored in their 189-8 before Nick Smith (4-10) helped dismiss North Leeds for just 101 to clinch a seventh straight win and the title.

In Division Three, Alex Bailey (48) and Andrew Wheeler (4-55) starred as Ilkley beat bottom club Alwoodley.

Having finished third for the previous two seasons, Ilkley could finally celebrate promotion when news came through that Wood-house had beaten second-placed Colton, allowing Ilkley to go up.

But there was heartache for Green Lane in Division One, with the news that Adel, who had filled the second relegation spot for most of the second half of the season, had beaten Beckwithshaw, sending Lane into Division Two.

It was a bitter blow for a side that had been as high as second at the end of May when they beat champions-to-be Thackley.

Elsewhere in Division One, Thackley became the latest victims of Kirkstall who took their second half points tally to 63 from a possible 66. That put them level on points with Thackley who were already certain of the title, having won more games.

Dean Russ finished off a fine season for Guiseley by scoring 57 in a victory at Bilton. That took him past the 1,257 season total of Murray Goodwin, ironically scored for Bilton in 1994, and into the Aire-Wharfe record books with the third highest season aggregate.

Dave Pennett hit 86 and took 3-39 and Jordan Thompson returned 4-48 in Guiseley’s win.

Burley’s hopes of retaining the title had disappeared with a poor start that saw them take just 14 points from the first six matches but they recovered to take third place and finished with a win over Follifoot. Mark Harrison (5-26) helped bowl out the visitors for 140 and Ryan Cooper smashed 82no in 65 balls to clinch the win.

Andrew Rhodes (48) and Stewart Dobson (4-40) led the way as Otley beat Rawdon.

With both sides already relegated from Division Two, Tong Park Esholt and Menston produced an entertaining end of term match.

Park used ten bowlers as Menston raced to 304-5, with Kyle Smith (102no), John Storey (98) and Chris Baldwin (52) leading the way. Menston then threw the ball to eight players and Park were dismissed for 191, with Gareth Wilkinson demonstrating he should bat higher than No 10 with 73no.

Andy Wear (57) top-scored in Harden’s 165, with Nadeev Panesar picking up 5-44. Ben Waller (67no) and Gareth Lee (46) led the reply as Calverley got home with four wickets to spare.

Despite a 6-49 spell from Dylan Robertson and half century from Ed Brown, Olicanian lost by 13 runs to Upper Wharfedale, while Bolton Villas were within 23 runs of victory with 5.2 overs left when rain stopped play at Knaresborough.

Adam Mabb (55no) and Andrew Robinson, whose 4-64 was his third four-wicket haul in a row, starred as Horsforth rounded off their Division Three season with victory at Addingham, their fifth win in six matches.

Zarshad Khan (47) and Lee Bilborough (51) steered Silsden past Hall Park’s 179 with two wickets in hand while three cheap wickets each for Gary Owen and Ben Holderness saw Skipton bowl out a weak team fielded by champions Bardsey for 57 on the way to a nine-wicket win.