THE title race has been blown wide open after the top two clubs suffered defeats

Burley’s Shane Etherington and Nick Brook combined to inflict a first defeat of the campaign on the Division One leaders Beckwithshaw.

And champions Otley advanced their claims with an 84-run win over Horsforth as they moved up to second place.

It looked like business as usual when Beckwithshaw’s opening pair, John Inglis and Alexis Twigg, played their way to 74 but after Brook had Twigg caught, Etherington took over and soon picked up two wickets in two balls as the visitors stumbled to 93-4.

Etherington went on to take 6-29 and restricted Beckwithshaw to 185. Burley didn’t find batting much easier, but Brook (88no) saw them home by one wicket, including a vital half-century, seventh-wicket stand with Tom Day (32).

Horsforth have looked like the only side capable of chasing down Beckwithshaw but they also came unstuck as resurgent Otley.

Skipper James Davies was in cracking form as he made 105 with two sixes and 11 fours, while James Pickering (49) continued his good form as Otley made 288-9.

Ricky Halloran took 5-55 and Chris Thompson (3-38) as Horsforth were dismissed for 204. The top scorer was Chris Gordon with 55.

Steeton climbed out of the relegation positions with their third win in a row. Their victims were Pool who replace3 them in the bottom two.

Half centuries from Andrew Foulds and Craig Walton helped Steeton past Pool’s 220-8 with five wickets and 11 balls to spare.

Ilkley recorded only their second win of the season as they defeated Bilton by four wickets. Nick Cockcroft (4-46) and Rob Spivey (3-44) restricted Bilton to 178-9 and then combined to see Ilkley to victory with Cockcroft hitting 30no and Spivey 26no.

Kuda Samunderu (112) and Ben Heritage (83) put on 205 for the second wicket as Rawdon made 282-7 in their 100-run win over Collingham.

Former Skipton skipper Richard Nichols showed no mercy for his old club as he struck 17 fours in an unbeaten 101 which helped Division Two leaders Guiseley to a 116-run win.

In-form Michael Truswell (63) added 168 for Guiseley’s fourth wicket with Nichols as they helped their side to 278-4. Duncan Reeve took 4-40 as Skipton were bowled out for 162.

Ted Haggas took 5-66 in Follifoot’s 187-8 and Ricky Palacio (80no) saw Addingham to a two-wicket win as they continued their fine start to the season.

Luke Tinsley marked his Ben Rhydding debut with an unbeaten 42no but finished on the losing side after Alastair Long (59no) helped Calverley past the 184-8 target.

Devan Pollock’s 53no was the backbone of Harden’s 125 but they are bottom of the heap after fellow strugglers Adel beat them by two wickets.

The bowling feat of the day came in Division Three where Josh Hobson included a hat-trick in a 3.1 over spell of 4-9 that helped keep Hall Park clear at the top of the table.

With Jonathan Postle (3-29) and Mark McEneaney (3-54) also in good form, Olicanian were bowled out for 96 and Steve Phillips (37no) and Tashmail Henry (34no) clinched the win.

Varun Devesher (40) top scored in Bolton Villas 219-9 but the fireworks came in Green Lane’s successful reply. Michael Sanderson (42) and Azhar Mehmood (42) provided support for Michael Abbott who smashed ten fours and three sixes in an unbeaten 76 in 56 balls.

There was more big hitting at Bardsey where David Brook hit 14 fours and four sixes in racing to 114 as Silsden edged past the home side’s 221-7 with one wicket in hand.