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Rashid Ayub and Mick Addy took four wickets each for Crossflatts in their win against reigning Craven League champions Cullingworth on Saturday.

Another week of wet weather led to grounds being like puddings and this was reflected in Saturday's games with only two totals over 200 and plenty of low-scoring games with bowlers on top.

There were some terrific bowling performances from some seasoned campaigners. Embsay's Stephen Speak took nine wickets against Bingley Congs whilst Brian Laycock (Thornton) and David Holdsworth (Sutton) both had seven-wicket hauls.

In the First Division Sandy Lane and Crossflatts are the only two sides with 100 per cent records, with both beating highly fancied sides - Oakworth and Cullingworth.

At Sandy Lane the home side went first and rattled up 204-6 with Wayne Exley scoring 66 and Paul Thomas 50. Oakworth fell just 21 short of their target with Drew Duffy making 52 and Graham Rankin 43 as M Jamil took 4-56.

Cullingworth were alll at sea in their visit to Crossflatts, scoring a modest 80 as Mick Addy took 4-15 and Rashid Ayub 4-27. Flatts lost five wickets reaching their target.

Bradley and Embsay come next with four points each. The former hosted Cononley and dismissed them for 144. Matty Simp-son took 4-29 as Mark Paynter scored 69. In the eight-wicket successful reply Aussie Ben Hall scored 69 and Neil Andrews 59.

Embsay entertained Bingley Congs who were going along steadily at 54-2. Then mayhem started and they lost eight wickets for just eight runs. Stephen Speak went through the batters like a knife through butter. He finished with 9-19 off 17 overs, ten of which were maidens. The Shires Laners reply also stuttered and they were 41-6 before evergreen Bobby Bateman and Speak took them to victory in the 27th over.

Thornton opened their account with a 32-run victory over visitors Glusburn. Kevin Pollard with 48 was the backbone of the home side's 156-7 as Nick Williamson claimed 3-58. Glusburn were dismissed for 124 of which Matt Lloyd made 37 and Sean Williamson 33. Skipper Jason Lockley took 4-18 and Mark Paxton and Marc Laycock had three victims each.

Cullingworth's new overseas player Brannon Varley in action against Crossflatts on Saturday.

M Arshad 5-10 and J Quirk 4-26 were in good form for Cowling as they knocked over Barrowford for just 90 at Bull Holme. Aussie Benno Schickler top scored with 38. The visitors lost a wicket without a run on the board, then three more at 39. However golden oldie Steve Mitchell (15) together with Martyn Dalby (23 not out) and Steve Richardson (15 not out) saw them to the winning post by five wickets.

Chatburn and Haworth Road head the Second Division, two points ahead of Airedale and Haworth.

The Ribble Valley side travelled to Pendle Forest and won by three wickets. Pendle Forest were 90-8 when M Furquan (50) and Ken Halstead (16) took the score to 157 where both of them perished. Paul Shorrock finished with 4-33 off seven overs. Richard Shovelton was the rock on which the home side built their victory. He made 59 to take his side home with the spoils despite Andy Townsend and N Ahmed taking three wickets each.

Haworth Road batted first and made 158-8 in their innings at home to Foulridge. In Foulridge's reply of 117 John Lickess scored 46 as Andy Gudgeon spun his way to 6-33.

Ingrow St John's visited the valley bottom and were hustled out for 73 by Airedale with J Ahad taking 4-7 and N Zaman 3-25. Matthew Cox hit 52 as the home side strolled home by eight wickets.

Haworth got their show on the road at Wilsden who made them work hard for the three-wicket win. Wilsden were restricted to 110 with Damian Rowell taking 5-26 and Jamie Rowell 4-19. The latter then made 42 not out as the Bronte side took the points.

Sutton beat Denholme by five wickets at Royd Hill. The visitors made 142-3 with S Rogers scoring 63 not out and David Wear 46. Richard Wilkinson made 47 as the home side got to 87-5 then Justin Holdsworth (37 not out) and Mark Allport (17 not out) saw them to victory.

The day's only century came at Long Lee where Ingrow's Mark Price scored 112 not out as his side posted 180-7 in their overs. Then Nick Crook with 5-5 on 15 balls had Long Lee back in the hut for 69.

Unbeaten Glusburn II and newly promoted Long Lee II head the Third Division.

The former entertained Gargrave and going first made 174 with Karl Samson scoring 54 and Alan Coney 32. The visitors were restricted to 145 in their reply with Andrew Makin top scoring with 42 as Mark Pickles took 6-48.

Long Lee II visited Skipton CI II and dismissed the Sandylands side for 124 with Shabaz Ahmed taking 7-22 as Mark Seward made 48. Ahmed 43 and skipper Jan Haider 43 not saw the Keighley side to victory by seven wickets.

Haworth Road II were undone by Cowling's L Tenant 4-24 and Z Safari 3-18 and they tumbled to 74 all out. Mark Batty 45 not out was the cornerstone of the five-wicket win.

There was drama at Carleton where Barrowford II were the visitors. Chasing the home side's 108 Barrowford were 101-1 when Andy Smith dislocated his kneecap whilst running. He was left prostrate on the wicket for nearly half an hour as paramedics attended to him. The terrible injury could cost him three months out of the game and more importantly off work. Needless to say Barrowford ended up comfortable winners.

Cullingworth II are the sole leaders of the Fourth Division after victory over Pendle Forest at Roydwood Terrace. Martin Rendell 5-16 and R Clark 3-10 had Pendle Forest back in the pavilion for 68. The home side had to work hard to reach the winning post with two wickets to spare.

The day's lowest score came at Haworth where the Bronte side were dismissed for a paltry 17 by Sandy Lane, with C Dunne taking 6-5 and N Smith 3-9. This was in reply to the visitors' 125. R Farooq top scored with 78 as Gary Searby took 4-27 Bradley II's J Price 4-17 and Ian Clarkson 4-26 helped knock Ingrow II's over for 77 at Hainworth. However this was 24 more than the visitors could muster. Only Andy Holmes with 26 reached double figures as N Khan took 3-7 and Harry Williamson 3-18.

Golden oldie Brian Laycock rolled back the years as he starred in Thornton II's 14-run victory at Chatburn II. First he made 47 not out to go with Tim Gates' 41 as the Booth Bridge Laners made 121-9. Geoff Lambert finished with 6-41 off 16.2 overs. Then Laycock took 7-23 to restrict the Ribble Valley side to 107. Last pair Geoff Lambert (29 not out) and Chris Mulhearn (9) put on 32 for the last wicket.

Much fancied Riddlesden slipped up at home to Crossflatts II who had to work hard for the spoils. The home side made 129 which the visitors passed for the loss of eight wickets.

There was no play at Eldwick & Gilstead where Haworth WE were the visitors.

Six clubs in the Fifth Division have four points. Bingley Congs II shot Eldwick & Gilstead II out for a miserable 29 with F Waterhouse taking 4-3 and M Baines 4-20. The Beckfoot side galloped to an eight-wicket triumph.

Gargrave made just 21 at home to Glusburn III with Craig Watts taking 5-10 and A Cairns 3-8. Glusburn went on to win by eight wickets.

By contrast the day's highest score came at Penistone Park where Haworth WE II rattled up 264 against Skipton CI II. Sam Chapman (96) and Andy Parker (32) put on 128 for the first wicket and Owen Palmer scored 35 as Craig Boyd took 6-93. Palmer then took 4-7 in 18 balls and Ben Wooler 4-52 as the reply closed on 85-9.

Another golden oldie Sutton II's David Holdsworth took 7-15 to help ten men Foulridge II back to the hut for just 38. The South Craveners galloped home by ten wickets.

Cononley II also won by ten wickets at home to Pendle Forest III. Pendle were dismissed for 44 with Andrew Town taking 5-10 and Herbie Starkey 4-16. J Granger made 33 not out for the winners.

Finally there was a close finish between Oakworth III and Wilsden II. The visitors went first and made 150-7 with D Kirby top scoring with 53 and S Mamood making 52 as R Lindon took 4-38. Simon Howell with 48 tried his best as the home side fell just two runs short of their target.

MANORLANDS PLATE This charity match will be played Sunday, May 4, at Glusburn Cricket Club between league champions and Wynn Cup holders, Cullingworth, and runners-up Thornton. The game starts at 1.30pm and is 40 overs per side. The proceeds from the game will be donated to Manorlands Hospice.

3:27pm Thursday 1st May 2008

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