TRACEY Mahoney wrecked Lawnswood's innings with a 5-18 return as the home side were dismissed for a mere 67 in reply to Pool's 173-8.

Lawnswood, still smarting from their Hepworth Cup defeat by Leeds Police, were overwhelmed by a Pool side determined to maintain their impressive start back in Division One.

Pool's overseas signing David Tidmarsh had a significant role to play hitting 39 runs and taking 4-24 but it was David Singleton who plundered the batting honours with a well struck 67.

Nick Sheard and David Dockray both hit half-centuries as league newcomers Ben Rhydding made 165-6 at Cookridge in a match cut short by bad light. Sheard struck 8 fours and a six in his unbeaten 68.

Aussie Matthew Rafter hit an undefeated 60 for the home side before the gathering gloom brought the game to a halt with Cookridge at 89-4 in reply.

Olicanians faced 60 balls before hitting their first runs off the Pool Mills bowling attack. They lost four wickets before N Freeman ended the drought by hitting a six.

Olicanians finished their innings on 110 afterJamie Wilkinson had done most of the damage with a return of 5-29.

David Hardaker made a valuable 31 as Mills went on to win by two wickets. J Cox took 3-33 for the Ilkley side.

Otley Town appeared to believe that the game was won when they reduced Great Preston to 7-3 due to some hostile opening bowling from Johnny McGee.

Preston had other ideas and a combination of tenacious batting and too many loose deliveries git them off the hook. Their 188-8 was at least 40 too many and Town ultimately paid the penalty for a lack of concentration.

Their best bowler was McGee who finished with 4-62 whilst Nick McNeice bagged 3-38 despite struggling with an injury.

Wickets fell at regular intervals in the Town reply and they never looked capable of reaching the target. Main contributors were Darren Hall with 31, Tony Smith with 21 and Bernard Thornton with an unbeaten 23 but the innings fizzled out to a disappointing 125 leaving Great Preston worthy winners by 63 runs.

Olicanian seconds finally played a proper game of cricket at the fourth attempt, what with losing the first two to the weather and then turning out a very weakened team on RL Challenge Cup Final Saturday which saw a crushing ten wicket defeat by Leeds Police.

However, Saturday saw a near full strength side play away to Great Preston for the first time. On a very wet wicket Olicanian's lost the toss and were inserted. Things soon brightened thanks to some very enterprising batting from Graeme Omerod who raced to 28 before being run out by a very fine throw from square leg. Captain Robert Brear then went cheaply before Rupert Jones and newcomer Paul Webb set about rebuilding the innings in a partnership of 35 before Jones ran himself out for 16. Paul Webb continued the good work, top scoring with 45, and with help from the tail a respectable 136-8 was posted which included four run outs.

In reply Great Preston were soon in trouble at 8-2 then 13-3 and 71-7. It seemed victory was to be Olicanian's.

Then Adrian Thompson, after being dropped twice launched a thunderous counter attack against a tiring attack lacking a change bowler. It started by taking 17 off what turned out to be John Hardisty's final over and then another 17 off Rod Dewhurst ending up on 76 not out in an unbroken eighth wicket partnership of 66 of which his partner's contribution was five.

A one point return was hard luck on Olicanians especially after a fine 5-55 in 16 overs by Hardisty who was well supported by Dewhurst's 2-43 off 15 overs.

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