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Menston bowler Adam Campion in action against Thackley

VICTORY over Adel on Saturday, when many of their opponents were left floundering by the bad weather, saw Burley take a big step towards escaping the Division One relegation drop zone.

In what were very difficult conditions with lightening flashing over the nearby city centre of Leeds Burley managed to reach 135 for eight as their overseas player Aussie Jason Wright produced the top score with 39.

Adel, who had taken 16 from the last 18 points on offer to move up to fifth place in the table, never managed to come to terms with Burley's bowling attack.

The main danger man was Nick Brook who took five for 22 as Adel were shot out for a score as miserable as the weather - 54.

With Pool struggling to get a point from their drawn game at Bilton Burley moved to within a point of them and are now only four behind ninth placed Otley.

The Cross Green side picked up two points at Kirkstall when they reached 139 for seven in reply to the home side's 179 for nine.

With Guiseley's game at North Leeds called off the four points earned by Kirkstall means they now only trail the leaders by two points with Rawdon a further four points behind after they had the better of their clash with the fellow title hopefuls Beckwithshaw.

Stewart Smith and Mark McEneaney both hit half-centuries in Rawdon's 157 for six and McEneaney then bagged four cheap wickets as Beckwithshaw were restricted to 146 for eight.

Green Lane's Indian star Vivek Mahajan hit his third successive half-century with an unbeaten 62 as Lane reached 164 for five in their 29 overs against bottom side Collingham.

However, it was all in vain as the weather then intervened and the game was abandoned.

Division Two STEETON were also frustrated after Richard Atkins hit a superb 99 had helped them to 247 for five but their Division Two game was abandoned with bottom club New Rover on 64 for two.

With Silsden rained off, leaders Knaresborough's seven wicket win over Harden means they have opened up an eight point lead at the top. There were just seven balls remaining when victory was secured.

Upper Wharfedale did Silsden and Steeton a favour however by beating fourth placed Follifoot by two wickets with three balls to spare.

Dave Eggleton bagged three of the five Follifoot wickets to fall as they set a target of 147.

He then hit 28 to help overseas player Ben Way (33) steer Wharfedale to victory and fifth place.

Things have certainly been on the up for former Horsforth skipper Ben Clarke since he joined Olicanians.

On Saturday he opened their innings and struck a beautiful 109. He shared in a prolific first wicket stand of 151 with Dave Britton (68) as Olicanians raced to 207 for one .

They then bowled out Calverley for 150 with former Yeadon player Richard Machell taking a fine six for 31 and Bernard Hughes taking four for 38.

Imran Mirza was the only Calverley batsman to put up significant resistance with a fine knock of 79.

Division Three Sam Wade (57) and Barry Hawksworth (44no) were the main contributors as Bolton Villas made 178 for five in Division Three but it was not enough to stop Illingworth.

They won by seven wickets to move ten points clear at the top.

Second-placed Thackley were another side thwarted by the weather after a good start. Leon Harber struck a superb 101, his first century of the season, as his side totalled 205 for five at Menston.

The home side were 27 for one when the game was abandoned.

Skipton took full advantage to move within four points of Thackley after beating Ilkley by four wickets.

Azeher Mahmood (4-14) and Ajay Rajput (4-29) skittled Ilkley out for 96 and Mahmood (33) then led the victory charge as Skipton completed the double over their rivals.

Darrell Robinson struck 11 fours and a six in his knock of 84 as Addingham put up a score of 163 for seven in reply to Woodhouse's impressive 299 for one.

With Nadeem Hanif (4-33) going strong Hall Park looked close to pulling off an unlikely win over Alwoodley, who were struggling on 63 for eight in reply to Park's modest 75 when the match was rained off.

Second Teams Ilkley seconds secured an excellent win against promotion hopefuls Calverley. The match, in common with many others, was restricted to a 40 over game by the rain.

Calverley batted first on a damp surface and made steady progress to 137 with tight bowling from David Fisher and Ben Button denying them any heavy scoring. In reply Ilkley got off to a poor start and at 96 for seven were potentially facing defeat.

However, the bowling heroes became batting stars putting together a match winning partnership of over 40 to seal the victory.

On a day when most games were rain affected Harden's A Rushworth managed to stroke 101 not out in his sidse's 4-2 draw with Bilton.

Another man amongst the runs was Kirkstall's M Missett with 77 against Otley, fellow opener R Caddy making 59.

Burley's Pete Sumner just missed his century caught after making 98 against Adel.

Luke Gray hit a half-century for North Leeds in their abandoned game at Guiseley.

Pool opener Adam Turner cracked a fine 86 as his side made 185 for three in a game against Knaresborough which was abandoned with just two overs to go.

Hall Park bowler Bob Hodson showed his skills with the bat making an unbeaten 56 in their win over Alwoodley.

12:50pm Thursday 10th July 2008

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