CHAMPIONS Otley capitalised on Beckwithshaw’s first defeat of the season to close to within two points of the Division One leaders.

While Beckwithshaw were going down by one-wicket to Collingham, Otley were edging a seven-run win over lowly Guiseley.

On such small margins title can be decided and Otley will be mightily relieved that theywere able to close out victory.

Things looked quite comfortable for them against Guiseley when Ben Morley (54) put them on the way to a total of 229 to ensure full batting points. Bradley Reeve was the most successful bowler taking 4-88.

Bottom of the division Guiseley hadn’t been near 200 all season and though they got off to a good start, their innings seemed to be on a familiar path when, on 115-4, Alex Bell (27) was caught by David Hester and Michael Stannard run out by Josh Atkinson without adding to the score.

Joe Inglis (64) and Chris Wain (34) put on 81 to raise hopes again but Ricky Halloran (5-50) and some sharp fielding made sure Guiseley came up eight short of victory.

Rawdon maintained their unbeaten record when Kuda Samunderu (60) and Andrew Duckworth (57) top scored in their 265-8 to set up a 71-run win over Follifoot

Shane Ethertington picked up 5-62 in Bilton’s 249-9 but despite a solid start from Danny Bryan (33), Charlie Davy (54) and 16-year-old Harry Brook (62), Burley were dismissed for 204 with Vic Craven and Mustahsan Shah each taking five wickets.

Nick Cockcroft followed up a four-wicket spell with a knock of 42 and Ian Chaplin hit a half century but Ilkley could only muster 175 in reply to the 246-9 total of an increasingly impressive Kirkstall.

Early Division Two front runners, Green Lane, were reeling after having all their 74 points taken from them for fielding an ineligible player, but started to rebuild their season with a seven-wicket victory over Skipton.

Michael Slater (5-43) did most of the damage as Skipton reached 121 thanks to a ninth-wicket, half-century stand between Iqbal Khan (30) and Luke Facey (29no). Tom Cornwell (65no) and Siraj Hussain (27no) saw Lane home with seven wickets in hand but they remain bottom.

Horsforth’s lead at the top was cut to a single point after they were skittled out for 96 in reply to Colton’s 118 despite a late flourish from No9 Michael Lambert (26).

Ben Rhydding failed to build enough on a stand of 92 between Charlie Swallow (85) and Forrest Hamilton and Adel went past them with five wickets in hand, and even though Shane Marshall’s impressive 7-54 restricted Illingworth to 183, Thackley were still second best with only Josh Brooksbank (35) showing any form with the bat.

Paul Quinlan (40no) and Greg Newark (36) were the main contributors to Harden’s 178-9 which was enough to beat Knaresborough, but Ajantha Weerapuli (82no) couldn’t find enough partners in form to take Tong Park Esholt past Pool’s 202-7.

There was no such problem at Addingham who kept hot on the heels of Division Three leaders New Rover with a 159-run win over Bardsey.

Ilkley rugby player Johnny Johnson smashed 18 fours and six sixes in racing to 134 in 82 balls and enjoyed a 160 stand with Ricky Palacio (77). Tom Smallwood rounded things off with an unbeaten half century.

Hall Park pulled off an impressive six-wicket win over Old Modernians after James Carlill (5-34) and Daniel Holah (3-9) restricted the visitors to just 120.

Olicanian lost four cheap wickets after leading scorer Ian Thomas (34) was out but Will Pearson (21) helped them to 128 before taking 3-21 and with Harry Smallwood (3-30) and Scott Sanderson (3-7) bowling out Upper Wharfedale for 110.

Bowlers dominated at Menston where Calverley’s Jonathan Hudson (5-22) and Tom Simpson (3-17) dismissed the home side for 136. Surprisingly, that proved enough because Charlie Parker produced a match-winning 7-46 despite the efforts of lower order batsmen Alastair Long (35), Scott Driscoll (16) and Ben Waller (23).

David Bayne, included two wickets in consecutive balls in a 6-14 spell that saw Silsden dismissed for 65. Defiant opener Tim Sugden was ninth man out with 22. Bolton Villas eased to victory by six wickets to climb to fourth in the table.