MATTHEW Sharp has proved an invaluable signing for Eldwick & Gilstead.

The 25-year-old, who joined E&G from Bradford & Bingley in 2016, was man of the match in the Mewies Solicitors Craven League Division One clash against Denholme at Grange Road.

The twin villages won the toss and scored 236-8, with contributions from Daniel Kilvington (34), Charlie Raistrick (56), Sharp (43), Kieren Temprell (21) and Deependra Rathore (20).

Sharp then took 5-21 as the visitors were back in the pavilion for 108.

Hepworth & Idle lost a tight clash at home to Eldwick & Gilstead’s landlords Riddlesden.

Riddlesden made 196, with Jonathan Robinson taking 5-32 (making 17 wickets in five weeks) and Mark Harland 3-39.

Jonny Thompson then scored 41, Jamie Topham 20, Tom Gadd 30 and Harland 20 but little support elsewhere was forthcoming and the Westfield Laners were dismissed for 178.

Wilsden lost a similar clash at home to leaders Cowling, who made 198-9 after winning the toss.

Sam Mitchell took 5-49 and then the captain continued his heroics with 63 but Wilsden fell 19 runs short of victory, Chris Longley (22) and Matthew D’arcy-Brain (24) having put 42 on for the first wicket.

Wilsden were 70-6 but were revived by stands of 47, 30 and 27, with Bryn Pacey scoring 24.

Haworth Road Meths will have been disappointed to make only 120 after winning the toss and batting at Haworth, especially as 53 of those came from Will Burgess, who hit eight fours and a six.

Haworth won by five wickets in the 37th over.

In Division Two, Hepworth & Idle II handed Ingrow their first victory of the league season, but there was no disgrace in that as Ingrow skipper Ben Weatherall scored 117 of their 225 as Swaraj Thakur (4-29), Owen Price (3-68) and Harry Pinkney (3-63) dismissed them.

The second strings were 88-7 but ended up on a creditable 180 thanks to Pinkney (41), Thakur (36no), who added 71 for the eighth wicket, and Dave Dunne (19no) after Ryan Welsh had made 34.

Bradford & Bingley III were on the wrong end of a clash between top and bottom.

Hosts Silsden made 268-4 and Bingley were then out for 166, Shahbaz Ahmed (58) and James Crossley (38) adding 93 for the fourth wicket after which things went pear shaped.

Newcomers Bowling Baptist are joint leaders in Division Three with Cononley on 75 points.

Baptist were at home to fellow newbies Menston Crompark, who were dismissed for 137 after winning the toss, Muhammad Zeeshan Tariq taking 4-15 and Shahbaz Ishaq 3-31.

Raees Ishtiaq’s 54 was key to Baptist winning by three wickets, scoring 54, backed up by Mudassar Hussain (24).

Bingley Congs III are third after easily defeating Keighley III, who came up with them last season, at Sandy Lane.

Congs won the toss and made 225-9, with the classical Waj Mahmood (84, including 13 fours), the talented Shahid Mahmood (38) and the gutsy Jordan Robinson (54) cashing in on several dropped catches.

The Mahmoods put on 72 for the third wicket, while Waj Mahmood and Robinson added 102.

Andy Greenwood (3-18) and Shahid Mahmood (3-5) then hit their spots as Keighley were dismissed for 78.

Harrison Houldsworth was a lone gun for Wilsden II, scoring 33 and taking 4-25 in their six-wicket defeat at Cowling II, with Huw Pacey scoring 25.

In Division Four, Hepworth & Idle III had a notable win at Menston Crompark II, Dave Matthews rolling back the years by hitting 66 in the Westfield Laners’ 161-7.

Chris Newell scored 26, and Matthews added 64 for the fifth wicket with Gary Wilkinson (11) before a collapse from 128-4 to 129-7.

Skipper Daniel Moore then took 5-30 as Crompark were rolled over for 102.

Bowling Baptist II profited from a concession by Denholme II.