ON another day when rain intervened after the tea interval, Duncan Ward (74) helped Embsay to 173-8 declared in 31.3 overs of their Mewies Solicitors Craven League Division One match at Cure Hill.

However, Oakworth were unable to start their innings and the match was abandoned.

At Sutton, visitors Foulridge were dismissed for 112 (Wassim Hussain 39no, James McDonald 4-28).

The home side were chasing that down when play halted with the score at 68-2 in the 17th over, with Sam Solley (34no) and Jonny Wilkinson (24no) in full flow.

In Division Two, the battle of the bottom two took place in west Craven between Thornton and Ingrow St John's II, and it was the former who snaffled the points.

The wily Phil Oldfield (4-17) and Mark Laycock (4-28) had the Street Laners back in the hut for 119, but the home side were deeply indebted to Kevin Pollard (71no) as they got home by three wickets.

In Division Three, Long Lee have maintained their two-point lead over Cononley after their game at Bingley Congs II was washed out.

Cononley were in with a great chance of taking the points at Crossflatts II after dismissing the hosts for 87, with Anthony Haigh (5-30) and Lewie Fitton (3-13) doing the damage.

The visitors stood at 11-1 when play was halted.

Will Smith (43) and Chris Lambert (58) put on 109 for Gargrave’s first wicket to help them to 189-6 in their overs, Visitors Denholme II were then hustled out for a paltry 41, Stuart Weatherill (6-27) and Ben Rhodes (3-0) being the destroyers in chief.

Another side to take all three points were Skipton CI, who took on Eldwick & Gilstead at Sandylands.

The visitors made 129 as Alex Horsfield took 3-31. Ian Henderson (64no) then led to CI to an eight-wicket victory.

Riddlesden II visited Embsay II and went down to a 31-run defeat.

The Shires Laners were indebted to veteran Brian Hodgson’s 52 not out to get them to 100.

Then two more seasoned campaigners – Simon Holt (6-24) and Stephen Speak (3-20) – had the visitors back in the hut for 66.

In Division Four, Gargrave II were in the driving seat at Bronte Fields when play ceased.

Ryk Taylor (56) and Tony Boreham (37) had seen the Skipton Road side to 198-8, and Bingley Congs III had slumped to 39-5 when another rain interruption curtailed play.

Cowling II went down Foulridge II by seven wickets at The Coliseum, while Peter Hatton was the star of Cononley II's four-wicket victory over Oakworth III in south Craven.

He took 5-41 to go with Mark Pickles' 3-24 as the Cure Hill side were restricted to 129, and Hatton then made 27 not out to see his side over the line at 134-6.

Sutton II were in with a chance of taking the spoils at Sandy Lane II, who made 157 (Kane Booker 4-34). The Royd Hill side stood at 31-2 at the close.

Bradley II managed a modest 87 against Haworth II, No 10 Vince Grant top-scoring with 24.

Danny Spencer (50no) took the Bronte side to the spoils, despite Grant’s 4-38.