PAUL SPRAGG battled out a big-hitting innings to lead Steeton to victory in their derby clash with Silsden - but just missed out on his century.

With his side on 99-4 after 24 overs Steeton looked to be struggling, bu t Spragg teamed up with Gary Boulton for a fifth wicket partnership of 89 in 15 overs. When both were out in quick succession Lee Spragg 26 and Oliver Gledhill 28 not out continued the run flow to enable Steeton to 269-9.

In reply Silsden never gathered any momentum after Paul Hardwick removed opener Chris Meehan in the first over. Wickets continued to fall frequently Hardwick claiming 2-17, Neil Spragg 3-28 and Lee Spragg 3-38.

At 84- 9 with 15 overs remaining Silsden looked dead and buried, but Andy Pullen 21 not out and overseas player Motschall 24 not out battled valiantly to see the overs out and gain one point for their side. Steeton had to settle for 5 points from a winning draw, after Silsden's stubborn rearguard defence.

On Saturday Silsden beat Bardsey by 99 runs thanks to a solid batting performance. Chris Meehan scored 40and Andy Waggett batted through much of the innings for 64 and was there at the end to blast three big sixes.

Australian Darren Motschall was run out on 25 and there were useful contributions from C Thornton (34) and D Jackson (28no) as they set a target of 235-4.

Bardsey struggled throughout their innings despite an innings of 39 from opener Andy Boves. Andy Pullen picked up 4-18 in a tight nine over spell.

Steeton piled up a total of 240-8 against Knaresborough with opener Paul Spragg scoring 129 from 11 deliveries. The other players to make major contributions were John Akrigg (28) and Gary Boulton (21). In reply Knaresborough were kept to 215-6 to give Steeton a 'winning draw'.

Steeton 2nds looked like facing a huge total as Bilton raced to 131 before their first wicket fell, but tight bowling later in the innings kept them to 232-9. The Steeton side were not out-faced by the size of the task with opener Ajmal Patankar scoring 61 and Robert Wynn was 68 not out as they stormed to a seven-wicket win.

On Monday the bowlers took the honours as Guiseley were dismissed for 153 with Stephen Roberts, David Robinson and Dave Cook taking three wickets each. Amjal Patankar led the reply with 46 and J Higginson added 39 as they won by six wickets.

Silsden's 2nd XI scored 17-6 againt Olicanians 2nd XI thanks to a career best 76 not out as they recovered from 73-5. Ian Sagar scored 27 and Matthew Knappy was 16 not out as he and Tillotson added an unbroken 63 for the seventh wicket.

Bottom of the table Olicanian had no answer to Silsden's Dave Baluk and Tom Waggett. Baluk took 6-32 and Waggett 2-35 as the Olicanians were bowled out for 127.

Steeton v Silsden

Steeton: P Spragg c Billbrough b Pullen 94, A Howarth b Motschall 7, N Carroll c Pullen b Motschall 16, N Spragg c Barrett b Pullen 7, J Akrigg lbw Pullen 5, G Boulton b Walker 48, O Gledhill not out 28, L Spragg c Sugden b Walker 26, J Emmott b Walker 7, N Wilson b Pullen 2, P Hardwick not out 0, extras 29. Total 269-9.

Bowling: D Motschall 13.3-0-55-2, C Walker 9-1-49-3, A Pullen 17-0-96-4, D Jackson 5-0-35-0, M Shuttleworth 5-0-16-0, C Meehan 0.3-0-4-0.

Silsden: C Meehan b Hardwick 0, C Barrett lbw Hardwick 9, A Waggett c Wilson b Spragg 8, L Billbrough c Gledhill b Spragg 2, C Thornton lbw Boulton 12, P Jackson c Emmott b L Spragg 8, H Sugden c Akrigg b L Spragg 13, A Pullen not out 21, C Walker c Wilson b Spragg 9, L Shuttleworth b L Spragg 0, O Motschall not out 24, extras 16. Total 124-9.

Bowling: P Hardwick 16-8-18-2, N Spragg 14-6-28-3, N Carroll 6-1-14-0, L Spragg 9-1-38-3, G Boulton 2-1-2-1, J Emmott 3-1-4-0.

Silsden 2nd XI v Olicanians

Silsden 2nd XI: I Pullen c Thomas b Hudson 1, I Sagar b Hays 27, P Tatterton c Hardisty b Hudson 4, J Tillotson not out 76, T Waggett lbw Hays 1, C Spencer c Kell b hays 0, D Baluk b Hays 16, M Knappy not out 16, extras 35. Total 176-6.

Bowling: J Turner 10-4-29-0, J Hudson 10-3-25-2, A Hays 15-3-48-4, P Hall 8-2-25-0, J Hardisty 7-0-22-0.

Olicanian: B Thornton lbw Waggett 4, N Stintin b Baluk 6, G Phillips c Tatterton b Baluk 15, J Hudson lbw Spencer 38, P Hall c & b Waggett 16, M Lawrence run out 2, J Thomas b Baluk 16, B Kell b Baluk 3, J Hardisty b Baluk 0, J Turner b Baluk 3, A Hays not out 0, extras 24. Total 127.

Bowling: D Baluk 19.4-9-32-6, J Waggett 20-9-35-2, J Tillotson 4-0-13-0, C Spencer 3-0-24-1.

Upper Wharfedale 2nd XI

Silsden 2nd XI

Silsden: P Tatterton b Roberts 37, T Waggett c Harrison b Grinstead 6, I Sagar c McGuinn b Harrison 37, J Tillotson b Grinstead 41, I Pullen b Grinstead 5, D Baluk b Grinstead 0, C Spencer b D Harrison 6, A Sagar notout 8, B Sagar run out 7, A Ridley notout 2, extras 32. Total 181-8.

Bowling: G Grinstead 25-6-61-4, S Moon 5-0-29-0, W Roberts 6-0-18-1, D Harrison 14-3-43-2.

Upper Wharfedale: W Roberts c Pullen b Waggett 17, A Butt c Sagar b Baluk 61, D Harrison not out 55, S Moon not out 38, extras 11. Total 182-2.

Bowling: D Baluk 14-4-52-1, T Waggett 22-4-73-1, J Tillotson 7-0-30-0, b Sagar 2.5-0-18-0.