STEETON held their nerve to win their final game of the season against title-winners Adel in Division Two of the Aire-Wharfe League.

And it was a good job they recorded that 29-run victory, as it ensured Steeton were promoted, finishing four points ahead of poor Ilkley in third, who thumped Calverley St Wilfrid’s to no avail.

It has been a wonderful season for the Summerhill Laners, who also defied the odds to win their second successive Waddilove Cup earlier in the summer.

Playing on home soil at the weekend, Steeton made a disastrous start batting first, and slipped to 17-4.

Captain Stephen Pearson led the recovery with a fine 54, but the star of the show was wicketkeeper Adam Smith, who came in at No.9 and bludgeoned a stunning 64 not out from 33 balls to help his side finish on 200-9.

Adel slipped to 98-7 in reply, but middle-order batsman Joe Harrison hit back with 64 to set Steeton nerves jangling.

But he was dismissed with the score on 160, and Ben Hemsley took the final wicket soon after to spark wild celebrations.

He finished with 3-58, while Paul Quinlan took 4-41.

Harden are also up from Division Three, after surviving a scare in a 43-run win over Menston.

Only a heavy defeat could have denied Harden promotion, but that looked a possibility when Menston bowled them out for 108, taking the last nine wickets for just 37 runs.

Fortunately, the Harden bowlers did their jobs, with Matthew Hogg taking 6-31 and Romil Butt 4-4 as Menston were dismissed for 65.

There was nothing riding on the games for our three ENCO Halifax League sides but Oxenhope, having ensured Premier Division safety the previous weekend, secured a narrow win over relegated Blackley.

They bowled their opponents for 141, and reached 142-8 in reply, achieving victory with only 10 men.

Cullingworth and Oakworth saw their respective Second Division promotion challenges die off in the closing weeks of the season, but the former enjoyed a fine seven-wicket win over Outlane on the final day.

Spare a thought for Cullingworth batsman Michael Dennison though, who finished on 99 not out.

Oakworth lost a high-scoring match at Queensbury by four wickets.