WITH four matches left, the Spenser Wilson Halifax League Premier Division title is Thornton's to lose.

They described their victory over second-placed Booth as "a big win" on social media, which is perhaps an understatement as it put them 16 points ahead of the current champions.

Booth batted first at Hill Top Road and a superb performance from Bradley Weatherhead (14.2-6-42-7) restricted them to 189, with Richard Laycock (74) the only visiting batsman on his mettle.

In response, the home team’s top order took the match by the scruff of the neck but it was No 5 Joshua Hutchinson (72no) who ensured that the thoroughly deserved 12 points were achieved.

The win puts Thornton in prime position to win their first Premier title since joining the league in 2003.

Third-from-bottom Copley were very disappointed to lose by one wicket with three balls remaining at Shelf Northowram Hedge Top by one wicket, with just three balls remaining.

Copley's Alex Rowles (97) was unfortunate to miss out on a century, and support came from Oliver Thorpe (72) in their 235-9 as Aamir Rashid claimed 5-68.

Hedge Top looked beaten at 179-8 but Oliver Hemingway (68no) and Rashid (31) rallied their team to victory.

Triangle’s batmen scored a plethora of double-figure scores in a total of 377-9 at home to Oxenhope, headed by Christian Silkstone’s 74.

Oxenhope made a fine effort in the chase, only going down by 43 runs, as likewise their batsmen enjoyed a flat track, with seven scoring 20 runs or more, with Edward Jackson top-scorer in the match with 83.

There was a strange match at Sowerby St Peter’s, where Parish Cup winners Warley were bowled out for just 81, with five batsmen failing to trouble the scorers as Martin Schofield took 5-42.

Batting was clearly not easy as St Peter’s slipped to 59-6 before Matthew Hoyle (17no) steadied a rocking ship to claim maximum points.

At the wrong end of the table, Bridgeholme’s visit to the top flight lasted only a season as they were relegated, going down at Southowram by 67 runs.

Five Rams batsmen topped 30 runs as Tom Belfield (49) top-scored, with a total of 242-6 proving too much for the visitors.

The second-from-bottom home team gave themselves further hope of escaping the drop but need at least another couple of wins to have any chance.

Mytholmroyd must be looking over their shoulder as they are only five points ahead of Copley, with trips to Booth and Warley to come.

Their last win came June 30 and their latest setback came at SBCI by 173 runs, as the Woods went into the home club’s record book as both hit centuries in the same match. with Thomas making 108 and Simon 106.

To add to Royd’s misery, Oliver Benson then took 5-44 as the visitors were all out for 98 in 24.2 overs.

In the First Division, Illingworth St Mary’s still top the division but Sowerby Bridge have closed to within eight points, with Great Horton Park Chapel still in the promotion mix a further seven points adrift.

Park Chapel were at home to Queensbury and duly won by seven wickets to leave the Old Guy Road outfit needing miracles to avoid relegation with already-doomed Stones.

The efforts of Queensbury’s Oliver Challis (64) and Ryan Senior (47) proved in vain as Horton’s top five batsmen combined to score the 205 runs required, completed by Chris Brown’s 76 not out.

The hard luck story of the day came at Clayton, where Stones were the visitors.

Despite the trials and tribulations of a poor season, the recent performances of the relegated team have been inspiring, and Ralph Bownas continued that trend but unfortunately the No 3 ran out of partners, stranded in sight of a century on 89 not out.

A target of 196 was easily met by Clayton in less than 27 overs as Tim Evans (52) top-scored.

There was a weird affair at leaders Illingworth, where reports state that the pitch was not weather affected.

Nineteen wickets fell for only 113 runs, with visitors Sowerby Bridge the ‘lucky’ team to lose only nine!

The home side batted first and the forthcoming afternoon’s events were soon evident at 15-5.

Their top eight were soon back in the pavilion, scoring just 16 between them as bowler Jamie Moorhouse (24) managed to raise the all-out flag to 56 runs, Jake Dixon (6-36) and Sam Mellor (4-18) needing only 19 overs to complete the rout.

The Bridge were in no apparent trouble at 26-1 but then somehow contrived to lose their next eight wickets for 29 to leave the sores tied with one wicket in hand.

Top-scorer James Holdsworth (19no) hit the winning run in a match that will be filed under ‘Do you remember?’.

Bradshaw’s visit to Blackley was a winning one as all-rounder Simon Collins was in fine form with both ball (5-35) and bat (59), assisted by a sparkling 63 from Dean Cotton as Blackley were beaten by five wickets, with Macauley Shiel (65) their best performer.

Mount continue to lead the Second Division, although their latest match assumed normal proportions with a 49-run win at Leymoor.

The leaders batted first and the main contribution came from No 7 Ismail Myatt (73no), with tight home bowling restricting the visitors' normally prolific top order to 250-7.

The home team, however, lacked batting support for Mark Coulson (66) and Pierce Walker (44) and fell to 201 all out, with Mohammed Rafiq taking 5-40.

Cullingworth were skittled for 34 at second-placed Luddendenfoot, and 15 of those were extras as Hayden Bruce took 4-6 in 10 overs, with the match lasting less than 25 overs as the home team lost just one wicket in winning. Foot remain 12 points behind Marsh with Old Town a further 11 points adrift.

Town also took maximum points in their home match against Low Moor Holy Trinity, where all 20 wickets fell, winning by 53 runs and they still have an outside chance of promotion.

Upper Hopton are in third and enjoying life at Stainland, registering another win by disposing of Bradley & Colnebridge with surprising ease.

A total of 210-8 was set by Hopton as four batsmen contributed excellent efforts – a target that would normally be achievable by B&C, but not this week.

They will have been very disappointed to be rolled over by their local rivals for 98 runs, with Edward Kay doing the most damage with 5-51 as Hopton remain nine points behind Foot.

Greetland made the short trip up the hill to Outlane but were thwarted by 25 runs, chasing the home team’s score of 245-9 in which Chris Brook (67) and Jordan Croft (51) hit half-centuries.

The Greetland chase got off to a flyer as openers Paul Quarmby (51) and Mushtaq Mohammed (50) put on 106 but following their dismissals, in quick succession after Alex Dorotiak (5-67) was handed the ball, ten wickets fell for 114 runs to leave them those 25 runs short.