Aire Wharfe

Otley’s James Davies relishes bowling against Bilton. Only three years ago he took all ten wickets against the Harrogate outfit and it looked as though he might repeat the dose when he ripped through their first seven wickets with only 48 on the board.

But it was Ricky Halloran (3-3) who wrapped things up, taking the last three wickets with only ten more runs added. Davies’s 11 overs brought him a 7-26 return.

And the fireworks weren’t yet over. Ben Morley cut loose, hammering 11 fours in his 48no as he steered league leaders Otley to a ten-wicket win in a match that lasted only just over an hour and a half.

With second-placed Beckwithshaw crushing Steeton by 206 runs despite the efforts of Matt Price (52no) and James Emmott (5-77), it seems like a two-horse race for the title but they still don’t believe that in Burley, who kept up their challenge with a comfortable win at fourth-placed Horsforth.

Jason Wright (60) and Nick Brook (41no) top scored in Burley’s 229-8 before Abbas Ahmed (4-57) and Shane Etherington (3-45) dismissed the home side for178.

One time relegation candidates, Pool, carved out a fourth successive win when they overcame North Leeds by seven runs in a titanic battle.

A third-wicket stand of 163 between Jake Zjilinszky (80) and David Paynter (92) was the foundation of Pool’s 269-8 but the game seemed to be slipping away with them when Andy Carson (119) shared in two century stands to take the visitors to 204-3.

However, Sam Wilkinson had other ideas. He picked up three wickets in an over on his way to 5-70 and Pool just managed to keep North Leeds at bay.

Will Spivey starred as Ilkley beat Rawdon by six wickets, taking 5-62 as the visitors were bowled out for 196 and then hitting 84 in the run chase.

Guiseley stay hot on the hills of Division Two leaders Colton after beating Ben Rhydding by 56 runs. Richard Nichols (53) top scored in their 181 total and even though Robbie Oldham responded with a half century, the home side were always struggling against the accuracy of Marcus Brown (3-17) and Chris Wain (3-14).

Andrew Stothart (4-44) and Amer Ayoub (42) starred as Thackley beat Adel and eased a little further above the relegation zone

Addingham dominated events at Calverley, Will Atkins (74), Ricky Palacio (59), Ben Brearley (59no) and Henry Barrow (4-46) their top performers in a 114-run win.

Shahid Nadeem hit 72 in Skipton’s 185 but it wasn’t enough to stop Knaresborough who cruised home by seven wickets.

Matthew Topham’s scored a half century at Follifoot but Harden dropped further into relegation worries going down by 124 runs.

It was a big day in the Division Three title race where leaders Leeds Modernians just survived a scare at New Rover.

Hall Park stay second after Mark McEneaney (33) and Daniel Holah (68) put on 69 for the sixth wicket to help them reach 192 before McEneaney (4-30) and James Carlill (3-5) dismissed Bolton Villas for 70, which included an unbeaten 20 from opener Steve Wilson.

Tong Park Esholt’s hopes of promotion suffered a blow when they went down by five wickets to Green Lane for whom Waleed Akhtar scored 67.

Tom Smallwood (43) top scored in Olicanian’s 140 before brother Harry (5-19) and Ed Broadley (4-40) bowled out Alwoodley for 103.

Zarshad Khan (4-23) and David Heslop (3-15) made sure Menston were able to successfully defend their 157 total at Silsden.