Weather is winner again in league's wettest summer (From Keighley News)

Weather is winner again in league's wettest summer

12:36pm Thursday 5th July 2012 in Sport By Trevor Coe

The first half of the season has been the worst of any in League history and the rain continued to play havoc with cricket on Saturday as only two matches reached a conclusion and one of those ended as a timed draw.

In Division Three, Cullingworth II were hustled out for 38 by hosts Gargrave with John Beckwith taking 5-12 and Will Smith (4-17).

The home side galloped to a seven-wicket victory.

The other game to finish, as a timed out draw, came in Division Four at Ingrow II where Long Lee II were the visitors.

Put into bat, the ten-man Golden View side struggled to 87-9 with Jan Haider making a painstaking but vital 42 as two junior players Tom Bradley and Dan Scott took 2-4 and 2-14 respectively.

It was those same two juniors who saved the match by batting out time to get the score to 78-9, as Andy Greenwood took 5-19 and Mick Hawkes (3-35.)) Division One leaders, Haw- orth Road, finally lost their first game to the weather.

They were up at Embsay who lost their first two wickets for no runs before recovering to 37-2 in the 16th over when play was halted.

Second-placed Haworth did not even make it onto the field at home to Bradley Airedale put on 85 for the first wicket at Cullingworth before collapsing to 124-6 in a 3-5 over game.

A Mahmood scored 47 and D Raheja (36) as Chris Welch claimed 4-37.

Kev Pollard was 39no as Thornton fought their way to 68-4 in the 20th over at home to Crossflatts.

There was just nine overs play possible at Bull Holme where Barrowford had made 27-0 at home to Oakworth.

Bingley Congs’ scrap with Ingrow at Beckfoot looked to be swaying the way of the visitors when the rain arrived to end play.

The hosts were all for 86 with Mark Pennington taking 5-13 off 6.1 overs and Mark Price (2-9) as Neil Copping top scored with 34.

The Hainworth side had replied with 2-0.

In Division Two, Adam Khan had made 56no to help Riddlesden recover from a poor start up at Long Lee. They ended up on 111-2 after 27 overs.

Foulridge’s Chris Brooker-Carey took 3-16 off 14 overs to have Cowling 52-4 at Keighley Road.

Only eight overs play was possible at Sutton where Oakworth II were the visitors, and it was a similar tail at Pendle Forest where Ingrow St John's were in town.

Wilsden’s Steve Wright scored 61no at Cononley as his side reached 129-2 at the close.

There was no play at Sandy Lane against Glusburn.

In Division Three, Haworth West End’s Josh Holt took 4-19 as Chatburn reached 127-5 in the 29th over before stumps were drawn.

Richard Taylor 48 and Rob Taylor 26 had helped Denholme to 131-7 at home to Embsay II in a 30 over per side game with Jono Coward taking 4-69 and Simon Holt 3-54. The Shires Lane side managed on 9 balls in their reply.

Even the quick drying Haworth Road ground succumbed to the weather at 6.15pm.

Haworth Road scored 141 with Ian Robson making 49 and Rehan Ahmed (36) as Shaun Williamson claimed 5-35 and John Stuttard 5-68. Visitors Skipton CI were 7-0 off two overs.

Peter Carey (4-50) and Marc Atkinson (4-28) helped In- grow St John's back to the hut for 108 over at Barrow- ford II. No further play was then possible.

Moving onto Division Four the game at Wilsden II, where Haworth II were the visitors, lasted just ten balls.

This was ten more than the game between Riddlesden II and Sandy Lane II.

Bradley II were reduced to 24-7 at home to Bradford & Bingley III, but managed to push the score to 75 all out. N Smith (5-28), D Baines (3-13) and F Ul-Hassan (2-6) doing the damage.

As with most games that is where a halt to proceedings came.

Cononley II were 84-7 down at Airedale II and Glusburn II were 79-9 at home to Bingley Congs II when both games were abandoned.

No game reached a conclusion in Division Five which was disappointing for Oak- worth III.

They were in line for three points when Haworth WE II conceded their game.

However under league rules, one game has to finish, so they have to settle for a point.

The Chatburn II v Pendle Forest II and Eldwick & Gilstead II v Gargrave II games didn’t start, whilst Skipton CI II v Cowling II lasted ten overs.

Finally Sutton II scored 69-3 in 29 overs over at Thornton II.