OXENHOPE have returned to winning ways in the Spenser Wilson Halifax League.

They notched an excellent 26-run victory over SBCI to displace them in third in the Premier Division table, and much of the credit is due to Liam Dyson.

He scored 61 in Oxenhope's creditable 232, Joe Ousey giving the innings a lift with eight sixes in his 71 and Josh Tetley chipping in with 40.

SBCI were favourites when they were 159-4 with 11 overs remaining but opening bowlers Dyson (5-72), who did well in both spells, and Joel Fothergill (4-42), who helped to mop up the tail, ensured that they were dismissed for 206 (Simon Wood 91).

Oxenhope are only 13 points behind leaders Booth.

In the First Division, Cullingworth's innings fell away at Sowerby Bridge, with four of the first five batsmen being the only ones to make double figures.

Jon Terry (45) and Steve Welch (22) gave the visitors a solid start, and they were backed up by Stuart Jackson (36) and Chris Welch (22) but could only total 162-9 against the accurate Jake Dixon (3-29 off 16) and Darren Chapman jnr (3-37 off 12).

Cullingworth thought they were in with a sniff when they took five Bridge wickets, but the hosts were seen home by James Holdsworth (85no) and Chris Whitehill (30no) as they leapfrogged the visitors into second place.

Oxenhope's second team went down by four wickets at Great Horton Park Chapel in what is an extremely tight First Division, where only four points separate the top six.

Brendan Ellison gave Oxenhope a great start, hitting 14 fours and two sixes in his 75, but he could have done with more support at the other end in their 208-6, with only the Fleetwoods (Sam 39no, Luke 23) chipping in.

Park Chapel also had an opener in form in Nick Speight (82) but crucially he was helped by Chris Brown (58no) and Muhammad Umar Mehboob (28no) as they won by four wickets with 3.2 overs to spare.

Cellar dwellers Cullingworth made even less impression at home to Bradshaw in the Second Division, being rolled over for a 127 that relied a lot on No 9 Gary Bloodworth (59no) as Ricky Beaumont bowled through to take 8-64.

The visitors were guided to an eight-wicket win by Steve Beck and Matthew Corton.

In Sunday's Crossley Shield quarter-finals, Oxenhope lost by nine wickets at Sowerby Bridge.

Opener Ellison was in the runs again with 91 not out but only two other players made double figures in their 165-7.

Oxenhope used eight bowlers after tea, but only Edward Jackson took a wicket, bowling Paul Taylor for 43 as Bridge were seen home by Paul Smith (90no) with more than ten overs to spare.