BARROWFORD Seconds established themselves in the record book as they rattled up 252 for the first wicket at Thornton.

This is the fourth highest opening stand for any side and the second highest for second teams.

The openers in splendid form as second played third were Nick Burton 144no and David Wilkinson 97no.

In reply the Booth Bridge Lane side could only manage 78-9 with Malc Holt unable to bat due to injury. J Stanworth took 3-15 and Peter Hakin 3-34.

Leaders of the First Division, Embsay, travelled to Cullingworth to tackle the fourth placed side. The Royd Wood Terrace side batted first and were soon in deep trouble at 16-4.

They partly recovered to 60-6 thanks to a gritty 29 from skipper David Hall. Chris Welch made 44 before being eighth out with the score on 117. This progressed to 123 where the innings closed.

John Metcalfe took 5-48 off 21.4 overs, Scott Robinson 3-39 and Rob Cowley 2-27.

The Shires Lane lads then cruised to a comfortable seven-wicket win, with skipper Duncan Bullough leading the way with 58no and Duncan Ward making 32.

Second-placed Oakworth were in good form at Sandylands adding to the misery of bottom placed Skipton CI. The home side batted first and were dismissed for 84, which was something of a recovery after they were 11-4, Graham Rankin taking 4-6 off nine overs.

The Cure Hill side lost two wickets reaching their target, with Chris Mooney making 36no.

The battle between third and fifth at Bull Holme went the way of the latter. Visitors Thornton were knocked over for 111, with Farouk Shaezed taking 7-43. The home side cantered home by seven wickets, with Ajmal Choudry making 44.

Denholme did themselves a big favour by seeing off visitors Long Lee. The home side made 164-8 in their overs, with David Wear top scoring with 67. The Keighley side were rolled over for 132

Cowling's Keith Woodhead and Mike Dudley opened with 90 for the first wicket at Haworth WE. Martyn Dalby carried on the good work with 35 as the South Craveners closed on 198-9.

Adam Bailey, after getting some rough treatment early on, bowled out well to finish with 3-45. The Bronte side struggled against a fine spell of bowling from Dalby. He took six wickets to help reduce them to 74-8.

Skipper and opener Joe Nash, who had dug in and survived some hairy moments, was joined by Malc Dovernor and the pair enjoyed a ninth-wicket stand which ended when the former was caught for 49.

The curtain was brought down with the score on 137 as Dovernor was caught behind for a breezy 40. Dalby finished with 8-47.

Haworth did themselves a great favour as they triumphed at Bradley by 52 runs. The Bronte side made 201-7 in their overs, with Damian Rowell scoring 56no, Richard Powell 43 and Jamie Rowell 37. The best bowler was skipper James Heseltine, who took 4-45. In reply the home side were dismissed for 149, with Matt Milbourne scoring 46 as Damian Rowell took 5-53 and Jamie Rowell 4-37.

The battle of the top two in the Second Division went the way of second-placed Sutton, who close up to within a point of leaders Cononley.

The visitors made a moderate 140, with Paul Hardaker leading the way with 41 and Alan Johnson chipping in with 39 as Ian Thompson claimed 5-16.

The home side were under the cosh from the start and it was two of their lesser lights who claimed the wickets. Justin Holdsworth finished with 5-52 and youngster Robert Wilkinson 4-23 as they were dismissed for 109.

The game between the third and fourth-placed clubs saw Airedale entertain Glusburn. No 11 Simon Hagerty, with 37no, helped the South Craveners' cause as they reached 165 all out. Giles Wilmore 5-59 and Alan Hayes 4-40 claiming most of the wickets.

The Keighley side cruised home by seven wickets with five overs to spare as Phil Loftus 63no and Matthew Cox 59 did the damage with the bat.