Ilkley and Rawdon secured promotion to the Aire-Wharfe League top flight and Bolton Villas narrowly escaped relegation as events in Division Two dominated the final day of the season.

Out of Division One for 30 years, Ilkley faced the daunting task of travelling to third-placed Knaresborough, who were only three points behind them. But any nerves quickly disappeared as their bowlers destroyed the home side’s batting.

Henry Wilson (4-26), Luke Bott (3-27) and James Pearson (3-6) skittled the hosts for 86, before Jonathan Hughes (43no) and Alex Bailey (41no) had the champagne corks popping with an unbeaten opening stand.

Rawdon also quickly got their celebrations under way, passing Bolton Villas’ 144 in 27.1 overs for the loss of five wickets. Andrew Doidge starred with a second successive five-wicket haul.

That left Villas only four points above Bardsey, who were still in action at already-relegated Calverley, a side with only one victory to their name all season.

Ben Waller (68) helped Calverley recover from 32-3 to a respectable 202-9 and, despite the efforts of Bardsey’s middle-order, Tim Lomas (4-45) and Tom Simpson (6-53) bowled them out eight short of victory; so Villas had escaped.

Thackley and Tong Park Esholt had both looked promotion candidates until late in the season, so their meeting had something of an ‘if only’ feel to it – especially for Thackley, who dominated.

Half-centuries for Majid Khan and Yasser Ali took them to 211-8 before Nasser Jamal (3-51) and Mahir Ali (7-53) dismissed the visitors for 110. Between them the deadly bowling duo took 120 league wickets this season.

Michael Abbott (100) and Jake Wray (54) starred in Green Lane’s 238-9 but their match at Adel was abandoned with the home side on 151-7.

James Davies, who equalled the league record with a 10-15 spell in June, rounded off an excellent season for Otley in some style.

He took 7-71 as Ben Rhydding reached 187, in which Charlie Swallow contributed a season’s best 72 not out. Davies (72no) then linked up with Josh Atkinson (81no) to steer Otley to a seven-wicket victory that sealed third place in Division One.

Otley also reached the semi-finals of the Waddilove Cup, while their second and third teams won their own divisions and reached the finals of the Chappell and Birtwhistle Cups.

Nick Brook (4-56) helped restrict Follifoot to 203-9 before brother Richard (96no) and Ed Brown (57) clinched Burley’s tenth win of the season by five wickets.

There was also a comfortable victory for Guiseley after Alex Bell (58) and Dave Pennett (71no) put on 96 in their 207-6. Tallan Wright (5-18) then rolled over Pool for just 75.

Harden’s brief stay in the top flight ended with a crushing nine-wicket defeat by champions Beckwithshaw after they were bowled out for 83.

Ben Holderness (53) and Richard Nichols (4-20) led the way as Division Three champions Skipton beat Addingham to pass the 100-point mark.

Addingham batsman Ricky Palacio was dismissed for 20 and so fell just short of 1,000 runs for what has been an impressive season.

Mark McEneaney (4-41) helped restrict Woodhouse to 191-7 but Horsforth looked on the ropes at 66-4 before Mark Gilliver (75no) took control, winning the match off the last available ball with two wickets in hand.

Ally Walshaw (4-64) had Illingworth struggling at 3-4 but they recovered to pass Hall Park’s 192-8 with seven wickets down.

Gareth Lee’s (117) second century of the season took Menston to 229-8 but New Rover went on to win by six wickets.

Rock-bottom Silsden (128) were comfortably defeated by second-placed Upper Wharfedale (132-3) and must hope they can now follow in Skipton’s footsteps and go from bottom to top in one season.