AFTER three straight wins, Oxenhope have lost the leadership of Division One in the Spenser Wilson Halifax League after a disappointing home defeat to Old Crossleyans.

Electing to field on a damp wicket, Scott Mallinson (3-81) soon made inroads into Crocs' early order with three wickets as the visitors were reduced to 31-3.

However, Rizan Manir (56), Mark Jowett (38) and Qamar Ayub (87) were all beneficiaries of dropped catches as Crossleyans took their score to a challenging but not impossible 224-9.

The Oxenhope innings never got started, however, as Jack Hemblys (4-47) and Mark Jowett (4-36) kept a steady flow of dismissals, only Tom Mawer (66) mastering their medium pace.

The final nail in the coffin was being dismissed on 139, one short of a second batting bonus point as Oxenhope dropped to second behind Bridgeholme.

Great Horton Park Chapel enjoyed their visit to Queensbury where the home side were dismissed for 132, Baber Yaqoob taking 4-54 and Adam Beesley 3-40.

The visitors moved to within three points of their hosts' third place, completing a good day with 135-4 and take maximum points, Beesley completing a fine match with 30 not out after a solid opening stand between Richard Hassall (26) and Robert Gamble (31), Gurdev Singh taking 3-44 off 20 overs.

Matthew Haley (3-29) and Martin Jenkins (3-63) were among the few bright spots for Low Moor, who remain bottom of the table after a 59-run defeat at Southowram, David Jowett rolling back the years in taking 7-18 for the hosts.

In Division Two, Old Town could only muster eight men on their visit to Cullingworth and the result was no surprise as they were all out for 102 at the leaders, Jack Connor's 37 not out saving them from an even lower total.

Ben Burkill took 4-20 and he then scored 64 not out, Adie Powis making 34 not out as Cullingworth romped to victory in just over ten overs to ensure a very early finish.

As emphatic in its own way was second-placed Denholme Clough's 123-run victory over visitors Clayton.

Clough lost two early wickets but Imran Aslam (58) and Tanweer Aslam (39) added 83 for the third wicket on their way to 202, Paul Gelder taking 6-79 in his 21 overs.

Only two players made double figures after tea as Clayton were dismissed in 26.2 overs, with Waqas Ali (6-38) and Israh Akram (3-41) bowling unchanged.

Jonathon Marshall (75) led the way for Shelf as they recorded a fine win at Outlane by four wickets, chasing down the home team's 229 all out, Robert Ramsden taking 5-87 for the victors.

In the Premier Division, Jer Lane retained top spot in a relatively low-scoring affair, with the hosts despatching Sowerby Bridge for 110 runs after themselves being back in the pavilion for 141.

Only Jer's Imran Mirza (53) reached a half-century as Ashton Richardson took 7-60 for the losers, with Simon Collins's 5-71 being the best for Jer Lane.

Thornton's Joshua Hutchinson put in a fine bowling spell at Northowram Hedge Top, his 6-65 off 22 overs being the main reason the home team failed to reach a 236-run target and lost by 29 runs.