TITLE races in the JP Mewies Craven League have often been influenced to some degree by the vagaries of the English weather and in the current climate, that uncertainty remains an imponderable as the leading sides battle to get the upper hand.

There was a time when some leagues insisted that a proportion of all matches had to be played for results to stand, but that does not apply to the Craven League, so good luck can still play an important part in the overall outcome.

Last weekend it was the turn of leaders Embsay to get the rub of the green when they took advantage of the inactivity of their two nearest rivals, Barrowford and Oakworth to open a four and eight point gap respectively, at the top.

Ironically, Embsay were victims of the weather on the opening day of the season when their game at Foulridge was washed out.

Last Saturday they were facing Foulridge again, but this time their earlier handicap was redressed as they stole a march on their main rivals.

Duncan Bullough and Simon Bailey put on 115 for the first wicket when Embsay batted first before Bailey went for 61.

After losing Duncan Ward for 4, Bullough helped the score to 180, when he was run out for a splendid 85. At the close of the overs, they had reached 205-5.

The Noyna side was making a decent fist of its reply at 86-2. However the introduction of Scott Robinson and Richard Phillipson into the attack saw them lose eight wickets for the addition of just 21 runs. Phillipson finished with 4-8 and Robinson 4-16 as John Lambert top scored with 33 in his side's 102 total.

The only other game to survive the weather, Cullingworth against Cowling produced a nerve tingling finish as the visitors got home by just one run.