KIRKSTALL Educational have made a rapid rise since joining the Airedale and Wharfedale League from the Leeds League in 2000.

The Leeds club are continuing to impress in the top flight after lifting the Division C and Division B titles.

They are fast applying pressure to reigning champions and current leaders Bilton.

Their Australian Colin Dettmer played a vital role in their 44 runs win over Follifoot which left them in second place.

He hit an unbeaten 49 as his side posted a target of 175 and followed this up with a five for 33 return off his 26 overs, seven of which were maidens. Follifoot were dismissed for 131.

Toby Drummond is the new captain of Bilton and he has made his mark since transferring from the Bradford League. He hammered a superb 77 off 97 balls as he led his side to a nine wicket win over Adel.

The home side had been dismissed for 133 as Luke Jarvis (4-57 off 18 overs) and Mahmood Rassool (5-21 off 15 overs) bowled well.

After losing Miles Corish for 19 Drummond and Australian Lloyd Mash (33 no) steered their side to an emphatic win.

Green Lane's batsmen were in form against Hall Park rattling up a score of 240-7. Steve Hargreaves was top scorer with a fine 68 but there were also major contributions from other batsmen.

Phil Atkinson, who missed his soccer season for a season's cricket in Australia, hit 51; skipper Barry McCormick 48, Neil Allitt 25 and Jamie Pickering 22.

The Park bowlers were unable to get to grips with the game with West Indian Kenrick Marshall the best of the bunch with 3-60 off 25 overs. Bob Hodson took some punishment with 1-96 off 13 overs while Robert Murphy had 1-60 off 12 overs.

Park struggled in reply and were content to settle for a draw at 151-6 with Murphy showing resistance with an unbeaten 44.

Australian Rohan Obst was Lane's best bowler with 3-45 off 20 overs.

Some excellent bowling by Andrew Paley (5-31 off 18 overs) and Southport goalkeeper Steve Dickinson (4-31 off 13 overs) set Guiseley up for a five-wicket win over neighbours Menston.

Only former Guiseley player Richard Taylor with 42 and Nick Thornton with 38 showed any resistance as Paley and Dickinson were well backed up by Chris Wain with one for 17 off ten overs.

Guiseley had a solid start through Mark Ross (28) and Graeme Wolfenden (24) which was continued by Richard Whitaker with an unbeaten 33.

Richard Taylor tried to stem the tide with a three for 25 return off 11 overs but Guiseley coasted home with eight overs to spare.

Young James Davies is showing good form for Otley on their return to the top flight and he made 45 against Beckwithshaw on Saturday.

Unfortunately his colleagues failed to show the same form and they lost by 102 runs.

Beckwithshaw had made a more than useful 222-5 with half-centuries from R Wilkins and S Walmsley.

Doing the damage in the Otley innings were Andrew Gott with 5-36 and N Rimmington with 4-26.

North Leeds hit a massive 336-6 with their number five batsman Martin Kellaway hammering an impressive 120 against Rawdon.

Kellaway was assisted by a fine 93 from A Easton and an unbeaten 53 from N Baker in achieving this big score.

In reply Rawdon were restricted to 140, skipper Craig Walsh top scoring with 38 not out.