Ricky Palacio hit an unbeaten century to give Addingham victory over Olicanian and put himself at the top of the Aire-Wharfe League run-scorers standings with five games to go.

The Kiwi opener included 18 fours in his 116 not out, which took his tally for the season to 742, six ahead of Pool’s Josh Inglis.

With Johnny Johnson also flying high on 666, Addingham might expect to be among those challenging for promotion from Division Three but they have had a very up and down season and even this, their seventh win, was not straightforward.

Charlie Wheeler (52) gave Olicanian a good start but they twice suffered the loss of quick wickets and needed Ben Brearley (54), in stands with Dave Britton (39) and Giles Philips (28no), to take them to 219-9.

That looked out of sight for Addingham when they collapsed to 67-5 but Palacio was still there and finally found a solid partner in Joe Midgley (56) and they put them on the road to victory with a 132 stand.

John Storey marked his return to action after almost a year absent through injury by hitting 61 in Menston’s 209-9. Gareth Lee made 69 and followed up with 4-48 but couldn’t prevent Alwoodley getting home by four wickets.

Skipton opened up a 14-point lead at the top after defending a modest total of 100 by bowling out second-placed Upper Wharfedale for 99, Richard Nichols the hero of the day with 6-26.

Horsforth suffered the double blow of losing the derby at Hall Park and so failing to move into the promotion spots.

Ally Walshaw’s 11.3-over spell produced 5-10 as Horsforth slumped out for 78. That allowed Illingworth to move into the pack chasing Skipton after they beat Silsden by five wickets.

Ilkley, Rawdon and Tong Park Esholt kept alive their hopes of chasing down Division Two leaders Knaresborough with some positive results.

Danny Bott’s 77no and half centuries from Harry Nielsen and Jonathan Hughes helped Ilkley take five points off Bolton Villas, who are still looking over their shoulder at relegation-threatened but improving Bardsey.

A century from Joe Loor-ham helped Rawdon to 256 but even though Josh Hobson picked up a hat-trick, North Leeds hung on to restrict Rawdon to four points.

Tong Park Esholt made the biggest move by beating Green Lane. Veteran Mick Scott took 6-30 and Danny Groom picked up two cheap wickets in his first bowl for two years, as Green Lane were dismissed for 137 in reply to 160-9.

Nasser Jamal (6-66) had Calverley reeling at 5-5 before Jamie Chapman (49) led a mini revival but he could not save the game. Earlier Mahir Ali (64no), Paul Naylor (50) and Majid Khan (40) steered Thackley to 220-6 to keep alive their outside chances of going up.

Harden remain favourites to drop out of Division One but they are not going down without a fight.

Richard Wear (93no) and Roshan Livera (55) helped them to 235-9 at Steeton, who responded through Andrew Foulds (119) and Andrew Luxton (42), but they were seven short of victory with only one wicket left at the close.

Josh Atkinson (93no) and Stewart Smith (53) led the way as Otley raced to 277-6 before Ricky Halloran (4-55) and James Wilcock (3-57) dismissed Pool for 206.

Tallan Wright twice picked up two wickets in as many balls as he took 7-65 in Kirkstall’s 195 but Guiseley’s batting could not respond and they were bowled out for 131.