Oakworth are keeping up the pressure at the top of the Craven League -- and added to the misery of bottom club Skipton CI.

The Sandylands side were dismissed for 84, but only after staging a recovery after losing their first four wickets for just 11 runs. Graham Rankin took 4-6 off nine overs.

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

Leaders Embsay, travelled to take on fourth placed Cullingworth who were soon in deep trouble at 16-4. They recovered to 60-6 thanks to a gritty 29 from skipper David Hall and Chris Welch made 44 before being eighth out with the score on 117.

They eventually reached 123 with John Metcalfe taking 5-48 off 21.4 overs, Scott Robinson 3-39 and Rob Cowley 2-27. The Shires Lane side cruised to a seven-wicket win with skipper Duncan Bullough leading the way on 58no and Duncan Ward making 32.

Denholme did themselves a big favour by seeing off visitors Long Lee. The homesters made 164-8 with David Wear top scoring on 67. The Keighley 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 a bit of tap 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 Nash 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 homesters were dismissed for 149 with Matt Milbourne who scored 46 as Damian Rowell took 5-53 and Jamie Rowell 4-37.

The battle between third and fifth went the way of Barrowford. 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.

The battle of the top two in the Division Two went the way of second placed Sutton who closed to within a point of leaders Cononley.

The Cononley side 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 homesters 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. Giles Wilmore 5-59 and Alan Hayes 4-40 claiming most of the wickets.

The Keighley side cruised to a seven-wickert win with five overs to spare. Phil Loftus 63no and Matthew Cox 59 did the damage with the bat.

Fifth placed Foulridge travelled to Morton and batting first posted 154 with Phillip Swarbrick top scoring with 49 as Anthony Haigh claimed 5-61. The Saints lost a wicket to the first ball of their innings and continued to struggle. They were dismissed for 113 with Ryan Duerden getting 4-42 and Tom Stephenson 4-51.

This drops the Saints into the bottom three.

Carleton and Pendle Forest climbed up the table with Carleton dismissing Gargrave for 81 with Ian Wellock taking 5-46 and Chris Jeffries 4-24. Gareth Wooler 38no and John Wrathmell 36 took the Ramper Park side to a splendid nine-wicket win.

Ingrow batted first at made 131 with Ken Halstead taking 4-18. Jason Bracewell with 80no led the homesters to a five-wicket victory.

Chatburn entertained and beat J Nelson's by five wickets.

Oakworth, leaders of Division Three, had few problems at home to Skipton C.I. Mick Thompson 42, Drew Duffey 35 and 17-year-old Luke Scott 33 helped the Cure Hill side to 168 all out. John Stuttard with 5-71 was the best bowler. The Skipton side suffered early setbacks but skipper Nigel Carr was pulling things around when he was out for 39 and the innings folded at 107 all out. Duffey claimed 3-6 and Andy Dawson 3-31.

Barrowford's openers were on top form at home to Thornton in a clash of second and third placed clubs. Nick Burton 144no and David Wilkinson 97no plundered the bowling to reach 252 wihtout loss. 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.

Embsay leapfrog Thornton into third spot after a comfortable 88-run win over visitors Cullingworth. The home side scored 200-4. A second wicket partnership of 113 by Andy Bell and John Stephenson, 50, set the foundation. Bell made 89no and Dave Barrett, who chipped in with 29no, put on 56 for the fifth wicket. The visitors were never in the hunt losing wickets regularly and were finally all out for 112 in the 41st over. Mark Rendell made a gritty 40 as Bell took 3-16 and Marc Robson 3-35.

Airedale secured an eight wicket victory at Haworth where S Aslam (5-25), and Malc Quinlan (4-20) hustled out the Bronte side for 66. N Ahad 32no and Trevor Cox 26 saw the Keighley side to victory.

Long Lee cracked 193-7 at home to Ingrow St John's with Jan Haider making 60 and Matthew Barnes 40. The Saints could only manage 104 in reply as Q Hussain took 5-17 and S Doane 4-52.

Golden oldie Joe Gordon made 78 as Cowling reached 195-6 at home to Pendle Forest. The 10-man Fence side could only muster 76-9 in reply as Robert Cave claimed 5-25.

Bradley now have a four-point cushion at the top of Division Four after they saw off second placed Glusburn by an impressive nine-wicket margin. The home side were hustled out for 84 as R Hirst took 5-39. The visitors cruised home with John Hopkinson making 56no.

Sutton just beat Cononley who had Sam Akrigg, 79, to thank for their 136 as Ben Airey claimed 5-45. Sutton got home by just two wickets.

Gargrave's Rod Moon was in fine fettle as they entertained Long Lee III. He had figures of 8-5-8-5 to help the Keighley side back to the hut for a paltry 39. This was in reply to the homesters 156 in which Kelvin Doane claimed 7-43 off 11.4 overs.

Chatburn easily beat Pendle Forest III by 130 runs.

Foulridge were restricted to 110 at home to Denholme, S Edworthy top scoring with 36. The visitors reply was halted at 84 as James Morville took 6-32 and M Gildea 4-35.