LANCASHIRE club Barrowford have been crowned champions of the Craven League for the first time in their history.

They secured the title with a last game victory over closest rivals Embsay.

After being asked to bat first Barrowford lost two wickets for just 19 runs before Ratnesh Misra and Ajmal Choudry steadied the ship

Choudry went on to score 64 and helped his side to 149-5, but they were dismissed for 164.

Embsay also lost two early wickets but looked to be getting itno their stride when rain interrupted the match. On the resumption they needed 118 in just over an hour to reach a winning total.

They were dismissed for 121 as Misra took 5-41.

Oakworth snatched third spot from Cowling when they beat Bradley by eight wickets The home side scored 120-9 with Neil Andrews scoring 36 as Andy Dawson took 4-43 and Chris White 3-25. After two early setbacks the Cure Hill side romped to victory with Michael Scarborough scoring 67no and Wayne Fradley 48no.

Cowling were hanging on at home to Thornton. They had made 87-7 when the rain arrived to save their blushes. This was in reply to the visitors 224-6, of which Richard Craddock blasted 84, Rob Foster 44 and Kevin Pollard 41. In the homesters innings Steve Mitchell made 36no and Craddock took 4-28. Damian Rowell 55 and Richard Godden 46 help Haworth to 196-8 in the Bronte derby. Haworth WE had replied with 70-5 when stumps were drawn. Craig Ogden having taken 4-32 in seven overs.

There was an exciting finish at Sutton when Cullingworth failed by six runs to overtake the home side score in a time limit draw. They required 55 off the last 10 overs but fell just short. Steve Welch made 46 as Steve Doane took 3-25 after having made 34 with the bat.

There was another nail biting end at Long Lee where the home side fell six runs short of their target and went down to Foulridge. Tom Stephenson made 37 for the winners and veteran Joe Gordon 44no for the losers.

Champions of Division Two, Bingley Congs, had few problems knocking over Airedale by eight wickets at Beckfoot. Neil Copping with 7-21 did the damage for the winners.

Promoted Glusburn had reached 12-0 in reply to Chatburn's 175-5 when play stopped.

Skipton CI lost to bottom side Ingrow St John's by three wickets, which added to the drama at the bottom of the table, but couldn't save the Saints.

The side immediately above them, Cononley travelled to Ingrow and pulled off a 22-run win which secures their place for next season. Steve Filkin 58 and 6-55 did the business for the winners.

Wilsden dropped into the second relegation spot and will face a new challenge in the lower division next season. They were at Haworth Road and were staring defeat in the face as the homesters had made 114-4 in reply to their 130 all out when the rain prevailed.

Denholme's Gareth Marshall scored a superb 135no out in his side's 220-9 at home to Pendle Forest. The Fence team were progressing quite well at 64-1 when played ceased.

With Division Three champions Sandy Lane having completed their programme, attention switched as to who would be accompanying them to the Second Division next season.

Second placed Embsay travelled to Oakworth to face a tricky game, and what a pulsating match it was.

The Cure Hill side built on a 122-run opening partnership between Lee Hollingsworth (61) and Steve Hartley (58) to post a formidable total of 191-7. Occasional bowler Mark Tucker took 6-38 in 13 overs.

The Shires Laner's were 141-8 after 36 overs and Alan Robinson 23no and Bob Pettit 19no took them to within one run of the target when the overs ran out.

Crossflatts took advantage of Embsay's defeat to jump over them into second spot thanks to a six-wicket victory over Carleton and secured a promotion place they looked to have thrown away over the past three weeks. Carleton made 165-7 built around Gareth Wooler (60) and Martyn Windle, (51), as Imtiaz Siddique claimed 4-46. Mick Brooksbank led a charmed life for his first 50 but then blasted his way to 106no - a knock that included 6 sixes and 11 fours - as the target was reached in the 32nd over.

Barrowford finished fourth after drawing with Gargrave at Bull Holme.

Cowling recorded only their second victory of the season winning by four runs at Ingrow St John's, and Thornton and Riddlesden played out a draw at Booth Bridge Lane.

Haworth Road put paid to Glusurn's slim chances of promotion from Division Four when they won by 11 runs at Park Field. Adam Cook took 6-68 for the winners and Bryan Hollis 6-55 for Glusburn.

It was all academic as Pendle Forest beat Skipton CI by eight wickets to clinch promotion.

The battle at the bottom to see who accompany Ingrow down, was a very one sided affair as Bradley beat Cullingworth by 206 runs, which sees them stay up. Ian Price 107 and Robert Hirst 50 and 5-46 were stars of the Bradley side.

Long Lee were dismissed for a paltry 16 at Airedale who knocked off the runs without loss. Jason Perry with 5-2 doing the most damage for the winners.

Haworth's Colin Williamson cracked 3 sixes and 11 fours in his 75no - out of 83 - which saw them win by 10 wickets at home to Bingley Congs. Derek Bright took 7-31 as Congs tumbled to 81 all out.

Wilsden beat Ingrow by the staggering margin of 299 at Windy Road. M Jagger made 112no and D Newbold 99. Then I Pierson claimed 5-4 to send the Keighley side tumbling to 20 all out.

Champions of Division Five encountered a few problems over at Foulridge before coming away with a four-wicket win.

Chatburn travelled to Cononley and beat them by three wickets, which saw them jump into the second promotion spot at the expense of Crossflatts who were held to a draw by visitors Denholme. 'Flatts needed just two wickets to go up when the rain thwarted their progress.

But they won back their promotion place after Monday's League Committee meeting.

Pendle Forest III defeated Riddlesden by 92 runs and Sandy Lane easily accounted for Sutton.