Thornton's Ben Burkhill in powerful reminder of his capabilities

Copley were indebted to Alexander Rowles (74) and Alex Blagborough (63) for hitting the majority of runs in their 209 (Bradley Weatherhead 4-55, Ross Parr 3-50).

However, opener Ben Burkill (79no, including 12 fours and a six) then reminded everyone of his capabilities as he led the home team to a four-wicket win in 31 overs.

Oxenhope pulled off an excellent win at Shelf Northowram Hedge Top where conditions played a part.

The home team was bowled out for 136 as Liam Dyson took 5-76 and Scott Mallinson 3-33, and then Lewis Hopkinson (57no) top-scored to ensure the 12 points.

SBCI were torn apart in their home fixture against Booth as Rick Laycock was virtually unplayable on a pitch that had been soaked by Friday's rain, returning figures of 8-57.

Not to be outdone, Rob Laycock then scored 48 not out as the visitors won by six wickets to retain third place. Bridgeholme came agonisingly close to achieving their first win of the season at Sowerby St Peter's.

Batting first, the visitors posted 190-9, with evergreen opener Keith Hudson batting throughout for 87 not out, but he lost partners too quickly.

In response, the home team also lost wickets at regular intervals and it was left to the last-wicket partnership of John Brown (23no) and Gareth Grogan (5no) to squeeze the winning runs after Gavin Hayes had hit a half-century.

The bottom trio of Copley, SBCI and Bridgeholme already look to be in a relegation battle, with all three now at least 14 points off ninth place.

Warley, in second, went seven points clear of rivals Triangle as they won at Grassy Bottom by 17 runs.

Faheem Khatana (103no) was the star of the show as he and Luke Duckett (48) rescued their side from a perilous 36-4 to post 231-7.

After opener Nathan Madden had departed for 70, the home side never really looked to be on a victory course, especially when Cameron van Rensberg (4-56) ran through the middle order, but the last pair held out to deny Warley the maximum yield.

Despite eight batsmen of the hosts Southowram reaching double figures against Mytholmroyd, none topped 40 and, as a result, Jack Earle got among the wickets with 6-81.

Tom Earle had no such batting troubles in the visitors' reply, just completing his century (102no) as a target of 202 was reached.

In the First Division, hosts Great Horton Park Chapel leapfrogged Bradshaw, another team that struggled for runs after an opener had lost his wicket.

On this occasion it was Adam Spendelow (72) as his team-mates scratched around for an all-out total of 177.

In reply, Great Horton's Amaar Syed only had one problem – could he reach his century before the target was met? Just was the answer as he made 101 not out, ironically no doubt helped by fellow opener Richard Hassall dismissal for 42.

Leaders Illingworth St Mary's (60 points) cannot shake off second-in-the-table Sowerby Bridge (57 points).

Both won with relative ease as St Mary's top-scored on the day with 314-6 at home to Queensbury.

Three of Illingworth's batsmen were no doubt kicking themselves as James Lawton (87), Stephen Cook (82) and Daniel Murfet (81) all surrendered in the eighties.

That eighties curse also hit James Broadbent (87) in the Queensbury reply but he was the only batsman to really trouble the bowling attack as Jamie Moorhouse recorded 5-45.

Sowerby Bridge had James Holdsworth (82no) and Joshua Wood (45no) to thank as they combined in a decisive unbeaten 112-run fourth-wicket partnership for a seven-wicket win at Clayton.

The home side had set a target of 230-8, with Danny Wilkins top-scoring with 59, and were very much in the match after Bridge's top three batsmen were out.

However, that was the end of any wicket-taking and the visitors were home and dry in only 36 overs.

Blackley's Jacob Linsel was the scourge of the visiting Stones batsmen, taking 6-45 as the home side cruised to a seven-wicket win.

Stones was dismissed for 155 and, aided by Steve Walsh's 41, Blackley won in the 28th over.

In the Second Division, Leymoor's Martin Allison (121no) had little pity for struggling Cullingworth as the hosts scored 275-6, but credit to a rearguard action in reply by Tim Welsh (31no) and last man Alistair Campbell (4no), who denied Leymoor maximum points, finishing on 115-9.

Mount made the long trip to Old Town a successful one, winning by 84 runs.

Batting first, Mahmad Gheewala continued his run of form, scoring 83, with Mahmad Kayat (60) and Rizwaan Abed (50) hitting half-centuries.

Only Imran Aslam (57) matched that for Old Town as their innings fizzled away, with Fakir Laher taking 5-38 as Mount remain in second place, ten points off the top.

The current nomadic life of Upper Hopton has not prevented them from winning half of their matches thus far, although no doubt the planned return home next month, following delayed ground drainage work, will be welcome. Most welcome on Saturday was maximum points versus visiting Low Moor Holy Trinity as Adeel Khalid (43) and Matt Broadbent (40) contributed to a 74-run win, with Mark Mills recording 4-46 for Low Moor.

Only Daniel Taylor (40) of Greetland got to grips with the bowlers of leaders Luddendenfoot as all five that were used took wickets in dismissing the visitors for 98.

The hosts, led by 48 not out from Lee Broadbent, had no problem in winning by nine wickets.

Another tricky track at Outlane saw the home team bowled out for only 123 as Andrew Mitchell took 5-43.

In different circumstances that would have been plenty as Bradley & Colnebridge lost seven batsman for 25 runs, had it not been for opener Mark Mitchell clubbing 95 not out – an astonishing knock as his team won by three wickets, which was little consolation for the efforts of Outlane's Toby Croft (5-57).