OTLEY crashed to a second successive defeat and saw what looked just two weeks ago like an unassailable 27-point lead over Burley in the title race turned into a two-point deficit.

The march to the championship seemed on course when Chris Thompson (6-34) and Nathan Goldthorp (3-17) bowled out Pool for just 126.

But James Rosewarne (6-41) and David Amos (4-60) had other ideas and they dismissed the home side for 103.

Burley looked in deep trouble when Jake Hodges (4-55) helped reduce them to 96-8 but No9 Josh Challenger stepped up, smashing 11 fours and seven sixes in making a century in 67 balls and taking Burley to 203.

Henry Scanlan hit a half century in Rawdon’s reply and Harry Nicholson added an unbeaten 30 but still the home side came up 42 runs short.

Third from bottom Pool’s victory leaves Guiseley and Beckwithshaw, staring at almost certain relegation after defeats.

Beckwithshaw went down by seven wickets at Follifoot while Guiseley could only muster 132 in reply to North Leeds’ 201-9, which saw Damon Reeve take 4-55.

Rob Spivey (47) was top scorer in Ilkley’s 158 but Adel got home by four wickets with nine balls to spare.

Four wickets from Ryan Sharrocks, taking him past 40 for the season, helped restrict Bilton to 186 but with Mustahsan Shah taking 5-33 Horsforth were dismissed for 108.

Collingham won a roller-coaster match against Saltaire to stay clear at the top of Division Two but the chasing pack of Tong Park Esholt, Hall Park and Addingham all won to keep their promotion hopes alive.

Saltaire looked set to cause a major upset when Toby Jacklin became Usman Munir’s third victim with Collingham struggling at 48-5.

But Nishant Desai (49) and an unbeaten century stand between Adam Wetherall (40no) and Steve James (70no) saw them recover to 242-7 before dismissing Saltaire for 121.

Waleed Akhtar (59) and Fawad Maqsood’s unbeaten 106 in 85 balls saw Tong Park race to 304-6 before Saqib Mir (4-16) led the way as Leeds Modernians were skittled out for 58.

Hall Park lost three quick wickets when they reached 50 but Marco Wyngard hit 13 fours and 11 sixes in a sparkling 136 and put on 219 for the fourth wicket with Tom Lester (82) to set a 338-6 target.

Kirkstall were always struggling against John Brough (5-57) and were dismissed for 191.

Addingham’s No8 Alex Hentschke (58) was top scorer in their 151 total which saw Sajjad Ijaz take 6-33. Robert Ellis (5-32) and Ted Haggas (3-2) then combined to bowl out Olicanian for 69.

David Robinson (57) and Will Luxton (46no) saw Steeton ease past bottom club Calverley by nine-wickets and ease their own relegation worries.

Forrest Hamilton (106) led the way as Ben Rhydding hit their highest score of the season, 314-5, with Robbie Miller (60), Nick Smith (64) and Alex Miller (40no) getting in on the run feast.

Rob Withers rounded off a good afternoon for the visitors by taking 7-49 as Colton were bowled out for 216.

Menston are the toast of Green Lane after pulling off a sensational victory over New Rover that allowed Lane to climb above them into the Division Three promotion places.

New Rover looked to be cruising when Menston collapsed to 15-6 in reply to their 204 but then Akhtar Mahmood (58) and Nadeem Hanif (62) turned things round and Anas Imtiaz (45no) and Uwais Mehmood (10no), who had earlier taken four wickets, clinched a two-wicket win.

Andy Wear hit a patient 61 in Harden’s 140 but Imran Zaman (57no) and Azhar Mahmood (27no) clinched the win for Green Lane.

They are now nine points behind leaders Bardsey, who beat Old Leodiensians, and two ahead of New Rover.

Bolton Villas still have a chance to be in the mix after Louis Brown (5-50) and Bilal Ejaz (69no) starred in their five wicket win at Shadwell.

Carl Tetley took 5-63 as St Chads set a target of 268 which looked within Skipton’s reach while Ben Holderness (58), James Mukharjee (72) and Tom Starkey (41) helped them to 201-5 but the last five wickets went down with only 30 runs added.

Thackley defended a meagre 86 total, Umar Fariiq (3-22), Shane Marshall (5-32) and Mohammed Shoaib (2-5) sending Alwoodley crashing out for 61.