Game abandoned after players’ money stolen

A sneak thief went into Long Lee's dressing room and stole a quantity of money. The police were called to investigate but the visitors had lost the heart for playing cricket so the game was abandoned.

The League Committee will have to decide the outcome of the game. Long Lee had made 177 with Matt Taylor scoring 69 as M Bailey claimed a superb 8-29. The home side were progressing very well at 122-2 when the problem arose.

The match of the day was undoubtedly at Thornton where the league leaders took on Haworth. In a pulsating game of nearly 500 runs only nine runs separated the pair at the finish.

The Bronte side went first and Damian Rowell continued his splendid form of the season by smiting 148 as his side rattled up a massive 250. Jamie Rowell chipped in with 38 as Mark Laycock took 7-39. Damian then still had the energy to perform with the ball finishing with 7-69 as the Booth Bridge Laners chased down that total. Jason Lockley led the way with 60 assisted by Nick Bowker 37. Then John Wilman 35 not out and Mark Laycock 19 put on 32 for the last week before the latter was bowled to leave them just nine runs short. The pair are now on 16 points each.

Joining them on the same total are Embsay who saw off the challenge of Barrowford at Shires Lane. The home side made 162-4 in their innings with Duncan Ward scoring 64 and Simon Bailey 42. The Bull Holme side were hustled out in 30 overs for 95, with the returning Farrukh Shehzad making 35, as Stephen Speak claimed 5-44 and Scott Robinson 4-29.

There was another excellent performance at Cullingworth where Oakworth outplayed their hosts to win by 99 runs. The Cure Hill side rattled up an impressive 202-9 with Joel Gallagher making 75 and Graham Rankin 35 as Dave Robinson claimed 4-43. The home side was blown out of the water for 103 with Michael Scarborough having fine figures of 8-44.

Glusburn's early season form appears to have deserted them as they crashed to their second successive defeat, at the hands of Bingley Congs at Park Field. The visitors made 197 with skipper Andy Copping making 44 and Chris Dibb 34 as Kevin Hird and Nick Williamson took four wickets apiece. Glusburn were undone by Neil Copping 5-47 and Ian Copping 3-37 and were dismissed for 166.

There was another close game at Sandy Lane where the home side made 185 in their innings with S Zubair making 33 and R Farooq 31 not out. Visitors Cowling battled bravely and closed 12 short of their target. Ben Thurston made 55, S Hassan 45 as Peter Noble finished with 6-59.

In the basement battle, Bradley got the better of Ingrow at Hainworth. Neil Robinson with 50 helped the visitors to 174-9 in their innings. Then Aussie J Ferguson took 7-27 in 16 overs to undermine the home side who closed on 117. Aide Parker battled his way to 52 for the losers.

Sutton remain undefeated and top of the Second Division after beating Denholme by 18 runs at Royd Hill. The home side posted 145-9 with Justin Holdsworth making 40 as Richard Wear and Phil Poole claimed three wickets apiece. Then Stephen Doane took 6-29 off 13 overs to leave the visitors on 127 all out.

Crossflatts could move to the top depending upon the outcome of the league's deliberations over the game with Long Lee.

Haworth Road are third after their visit to Haworth WE. The visitors amassed 230-5 with P Rodwell making 60 not out, Waj Mahmood 56 and Will Burgess 47. The Bronte side replied with 145 of which D Peel made 51.

Embsay II had a good win over at Pendle Forest. The Shires Laners rattled up 187-9 in their innings with Zafar Iqbal scoring 47 and Brian Hodgson 37. The Fence side were hustled out for 63 with Iqbal taking 6-36.

There was a good game at Cononley where Ingrow St John's claimed the spoils. The Saints made 226-6 with skipper Jonathan Green making 63, Gareth Wright 45 and Colin Bottomley 44. The home side whilst never really in the hunt battled bravely and closed on 186 with Mark Paynter (grandson of the great Eddie Paynter) making a stylish 50 and Colin Stead a belligerent 30.

Foulridge's trip to Airedale proved fruitful as they came away victorious while Third Division leaders Barrowford II had a comfortable seven wicket win over Skipton CI.

Chatburn were indebted to Richard Shovelton who made 71 not out to guide them to a three-wicket victory at Oakworth II.

Glusburn II and Carleton are now on the same number of points after the latter won by 46 runs when the pair met at Ramper Park. Phil Binner 95 and 5-58, and Gareth Wooler 73 not out were the stars for the home side.

Gargrave's veteran Ray Jones took 6-40 to help his side to a three-wicket victory over Ingrow St John's II at Street Lane.

Wilsden beat Eldwick & Gilstead by seven wickets and J Nelson's overcame Thornton II by five wickets.

Riddlesden are top of the fourth division. They rolled visitors Cononley II over for 30 with I Siddique taking 5-9 and Mick Hawkes 4-4. The Keighley side lost two wickets reaching their target.

Second placed Airedale II were grateful for a last wicket partnership of 65 for their 31-run win at Bradley II. The visitors were 81-9 when John Pollard joined J Barnett and the former blasted his way to 60 before holing out. Matt Simpson finished with 6-52 off 18 overs. Then J Perry 4-49 and Malcolm Quinlan 4-30 undermined the home side to 115-9.

Keighley TC went down by five wickets at Haworth Road II as the latter move into third spot.

Z Shafait 6-13 and S Shafait 62 not out were the main contributors to Cowling II eight-wicket win over Pendle Forest II.

Crossflatts II just held off the challenge of Wilsden II, winning by 13 runs, whilst Bingley Congs II were 49 runs too good for Sutton II.

Leaders of the fifth division, Long Lee, went down by five wickets at home to Eldwick & Gilstead. The eight man Keighley side managed a creditable 199-7 in their innings, with Shahbaz Ahmed scoring a superb 112. The visitors got home on the back of a sixth wicket partnership by M Roach 89 not out and M Timperley 62 not out, Ahmed took 4-74 off 18 overs.

Chatburn II beat Glusburn III by 17 runs in a low scoring game and Sandy Lane II had a comfortable six-wicket victory over at Skipton CI II.

Foulridge II went down by five wickets at home to Riddlesden II and there was a tie between Gargrave II and Cullingworth II. R Hodge 52 and 4-50 being the latter's man of the match.

Finally, there was a humdinger of a game at Denholme. The home side slumped to 6-3 before R Taylor 105, P Armitage 65 and R Green 28 pulled them round to close on 257-8. There was a similar pattern to visitors Pendle Forest III innings. They were 3-3, and then S Turpin 93, J Crabtree 72 and G Nutter 39 took them to within 11 runs of their target when the overs ran out, much to the home side's relief.

Wynn Cup second round On Sunday, the much awaited clash of Embsay and Oakworth at Shires Lane went the way of the visitors by 67 runs.

The Cure Hill side's victory revolved around a superb third wicket stand of 198 by Michael Scarborough and Steve Hartley, which was broken when the former was bowled for a cracking 109. Hartley followed two runs later for 71. The innings closed on a formidable 243-7.

The home side was never in the hunt despite replying with 176-9. Sixteen-year-old David Wellock, opening the innings, made a solid 37 to go with skipper Duncan Ward's 42 and Nas Hussein's 24. Jason Bilbrough picked up 5-25 in ten overs as the host tried to mount a run chase. Although Michael Scarborough only took 1-48, it was a very significant one for that was his 1,000th wicket for Oakworth.

The holders, Cullingworth, made it safely through to the third round after seeing off visitors Bingley Congs by seven wickets. The Beckfoot side could only manage 135 in their innings with Chris Dibb making 27 as Dave Robinson took 4-16. After losing two quick wickets the home side powered to the finish line with Gareth Marshall scoring a fine 88 not out and S Whitford 33.

The only shock of the day occurred at Haworth Road, where the Second Division team knocked out First Division Sandy Lane by 49 runs. The Baildon Bottom side had first go and amassed 198-5 in their overs with Chris Griggs scoring 85 not out, Charlie Hainsworth 33 and Waj Mahmood 30. The Greenwood Park side replied with 149 as Mick Holmes claimed 5-27 and N Sugden scored 40.

It is hard to keep Damian Rowell out of the limelight. Despite not being required to show off his skills with the bat he took 3-40, which included a hat trick, as visitors Wilsden made 154-8 in their innings. S Wright made 60no and D Collins 27 not out. The Bronte side stormed home by ten wickets with Gary Binns hitting 76 not out and Jamie Rowell 74 not out.

First Division leaders, Thornton, were given a good test by visitors Airedale at Booth Bridge Lane. The Keighley side posted 173-7 with John Lewis scoring 50 and Scott Mallinson 48 as Richard Craddock 4-46. The latter then made 38 to go with David Holt's 42 which guided the home side to the next round by four wickets.

Barrowford overcame Sutton at Bull Holme by four wickets. The Royd Hill side could only manage 114 in their innings with Paul Hardaker top scoring with 28 as M Qasim claimed 6-27. Qasim followed this with 38, which rescued them from 32-4, to see the red rose side to victory in the 43rd over. Simon Doane was the best bowler for the visitors with 3-26.

Pendle Forest put their poor league form behind them to beat Ingrow St John's by four wickets at Fence. The Keighley side could only manage a modest 144 going first with Gareth Wright top scoring with 55. Sam Halstead finished with 5-34 and S Reed 3-18.

Reed 50 and Andrew Townsed 89no guided the home side home.

The local derby between Glusburn and Bradley went the way of the home side. The visitors batted first and made 168 in their innings with John Ferguson top scoring with 32 as Simon Hagerty claimed 4-10 off six overs. The Park Filed roared to victory in only 31 overs with opener Matt Lloyd make 46, Nick Williamson 41 not out and Frank Sardar 36.

Cowling Cup first round The delayed first round tie between Airedale II and Sutton II finally reached a conclusion on Sunday, with the South Craveners winning by 52 runs.

The victory was achieved by a superb bowling performance by the evergreen David Holdsworth who took 7-16 off 9.3 overs to undermine the home side's reply. They closed on 90 in answer to the visitors 142. Malcolm Quinlan with 42 was the only player to reach double figures for the losers. For the winners, Holdsworth scored 25 and Chris Airey 27, as Quinlan took 3-31 and J Barnett 3-27.

Cowling Cup first round replay Pendle Forest II and Haworth Road II locked horns again at Bolton Villas ground and victory went to the Baildon Bottom side by ten wickets, after the Fence side had been hustled out for 53 with Richard Forrest taking 5-11 and Nick Griggs 4-13.

The draw for the second round of the Cowling Cup will be played on Sunday and is as follows: Thornton II v Sutton II, Wilsden II v Cowling II, Crossflatts II v Glusburn II, Cullingworth II v Chatburn II, Cononley II v Oakworth II, Riddlesden v Haworth Road II, Bradley II v Eldwick & Gilstead II, Skipton CI II v Embsay II.

The draw for the third round of the Wynn Cup will be played on June 25 and is as follows: Oakworth v Haworth Road, Haworth v Cullingworth or Bingley Congs, Thornton v Pendle Forest, Glusburn v Barrowford.