OF all the local cricketers cursing the soggy summer that has played havoc with matches, those at Pool arguably have the most to complain about at the moment.

After a first half of the season where they have struggled to make a mark following their promotion, last week they were within one wicket of beating leaders Otley when the match was abandoned.

This week they were thwarted while well on top against second-placed Beckwithshaw.

Former Bradford & Bingley batsman Pat Dixon (66no) put on 70 with David Paynter (41) and 73 with Mark Gilliver (23) as Pool reached 158-5 in a match reduced to 33 overs per side.

Beckwithshaw limped to 33-4 in 12.4 overs before being saved by the rain

Otley made sure there would be no slips in form or from the weather with James Davies (6-30) and Chris Thompson (3-25) skittling out Collingham for 82, a total Ben Morley (51no) and David Hester (24no) passed in just over half an hour.

Byron Boshoff (47) went past 500 league runs as Horsforth set a target of 175-8 before Gareth Lee 4-22 helped restrict North Leeds to 161-9.

The clash between Burley and Rawdon was finely poised when it was abandoned. With George Myers (56) and Andrew Duckworth (47) leading the way, Rawdon reached 201-7 with Sam Fox taking 4-27, including three in an over. Burley were still 93 runs behind with only 11 overs left but with Nick Brook (33no) and Ed Brown (44no) already in an unbeaten stand of 82, they will have fancied their chances.

After Paul Hardwick (4-50), Josh Gill (3-65) and James Emmott (3-34) restricted Bilton to 183 and with John Akrigg (51no) going strong, Steeton had high hopes of easing their relegation worries only to be halted by the rain.

Jibrael Malik (82) top scored in Ilkley’s 249-7 which was enlivened by Nick Cockroft who hit five fours and five sixes in making 61 in 27 balls. Kirkstall were struggling at 150-6 when the game was called off.

Ben Rhydding were one of the sides who quietly thanked the rain for intervening when they were struggling at 47-6 in replay to Division Two leaders Colton’s 204-8 in which Alex Miller took four wickets.

Tom Brady (69) led the way as Guiseley scored 197-4 as they tried to recapture top spot against bottom club Harden, but again the weather won the day.

A sparkling 105no, including 15 fours and four sixes, from Barry McCormick saw Calverley to a nine-wicket win over Adel and up to fourth in the table.

Iqbal Khan picked up 5-47 as Illingworth were dismissed for 147, which Skipton passed with seven wickets in hand thanks to Shahid Nadeem (45) and Pieter Coetzer (26no).

Addingham’s hopes of challenging for promotion took a knock when they went down by six wickets to Knaresborough.

Thackley remain close to the drop zone after being dismissed for 135 with the top scorer being extras on 46. Follifoot eased home by five wickets.

The battle between the top two in Division Three was definitely going Tong Park Esholt’s way before the rain saved Hall Park from only their second defeat of the season.

Fawad Maqsood (103) and Danny Groom (69) put on 128 as Esholt reached 243 with James Carlill (4-61) the pick of the visitors’ bowling.

Mahir Ali then took the game by the scruff of the neck, his 6-24 spell taking his league total to 45 so far, and Hall Park were reeling on 70-8 when the game was abandoned.

Third placed Leeds Modernians kept up their challenge, passing Bolton Villas’ 114-9 in 17 overs but Green Lane were denied by the elements when on top at Alwoodley. Neil Britton enlivened the afternoon with five fours and five sixes in an undefeated 69 in Lane’s 193-5.

Batting at ten, Ed Broadley hit 21no to help Olicanian to 112 then teamed up with Scott Sanderson (3-5) and took 5-20 to dismiss Bardsey for 85.

Sam Boyden (5-42) kept New Rover to 169-9 but despite the efforts of Phil Raikes (38) Menston collapsed from 102-4 to 124 all out.