GARGRAVE are making light off the loss of John Beckwith as they strive for promotion from Division Two of the Mewies Solicitors Craven League.

Their man run-scorer from last season has gone to Barnoldswick, but they have still won three out of three.

Will Smith took 3-54 as Airedale scored 183-6 - an innings that was dominated by Mathew Cox’s 117 - and Gargrave also had a century maker.

Lee Barrett scored 108 not out, including 13 fours and five sixes, as Gargrave triumphed by six wickets, adding 52 with Ben Howlett (29) and 90 unbroken with Matthew Beckwith (25no).

Bradley have also won three out of three, and had a comfortable afternoon at home to Silsden.

Wicket-keeper and captain David Hunt again led the way for the hosts with 35, under-17 Toby Meynell hitting 33 and Zain Naeem 30, with Ben Sugden toiling away to take 5-52 for the visitors.

George Bell (4-28) and Toby Meynell (3-15) then put Silsden on the back foot, with the Cobbydalers dismissed for 99.

Skipton CI were in miserly mood with the ball at home to Bingley Congs II, restricting them to 71 all out in 32 overs, with only three batsmen reaching double figures.

Rob Cockell was the leading bowler with 4-11 and he then scored 22 not out in their seven-wicket win that was remarkable for Sam Smith scoring all 41 runs of their first-wicket stand in an 18-ball blast that contained five fours and three sixes.

Cononley have yet to win and did not detain home side Barrowford II for long after being dismissed for 66, with Harry Parker (22) and Charles Calvert (11) the only players to reach double figures in a six-wicket defeat.

In Division One, Andrew Foulds gave a man-of-the-match display for Embsay at struggling Haworth Road Meths.

He made 41 in their 203-8, aided by opener Joe Holt (47) and skipper Morgan Davies (35no), and then took 5-19 as 10-man Meths were skittled for 127.

Mohammed Shah Usman was his equivalent for Cowling in their 19-run victory at Haworth.

Firstly he scored 62, an innings that contained seven fours and four sixes, in Cowling’s 149, being aided by skipper Martyn Dalby (20), Abdul Sharif (22) and keeper Zahid Hussain (29).

Haworth were then dismissed for 130 as Usman took 3-20 and Hussain 3-22.

Unbeaten Oakworth had a comfortable afternoon, dismissing hosts Sutton for 139 before knocking off the runs in the 30th over for the loss of two wickets.

Under-17 George Elrick (44) was again a leading light for Sutton, hitting three fours and three sixes in just 35 balls, but he lacked support, with Oakworth winning by seven wickets in the 30th over.

Nerves were jangling in Division Three at Cowling.

The home side’s second string made 115, Danyal Mahmood (40) and Aqib Chatta (22) leading the way.

With Haworth’s II’s last pair at the crease, Charlie Jackson hit the first ball of Yasser Chatta’s spell for four to seal victory in the 34th over, despite Sajid Shafait taking 3-8.

An even lower-scoring affair came at Glusburn, who were dismissed for 65, with opener Iain Beattie hitting a defiant 24, with Steve Brown (12) their only other player to make double figures.

But Riddlesden found things almost as hard and only won by two wickets.

Taking a positive approach despite the loss of batsmen, they triumphed after two balls of the 14th over, defying Irfan Khaliq (4-21) and Dominic Mortimer (3-38).

Denholme II were in the runs at Gargrave II, scoring 191-8, but the home side knocked off the runs for the loss of three wickets in the 31st over, with Jack Kitching (73), Gareth Wooler (46) and Jonny Coward (55no) enjoying time at the crease.

Kitching and Wooler added 99, and Kitching and Coward put on 62.

Oakworth II were even more prolific, hitting 218-3 at home to Sutton II.

George Blackwell hit a defiant 65 in Sutton’s reply of 129-9.

It was a similarly one-sided match at Thornton-in-Craven, who defeated Hepworth & Idle II by 82 runs.

Rob Foster (56), Tom Cleaver (54) and captain Ian Holden (36no) led the way in the home side’s 205-6 before dismissing the visitors for 123,

Glusburn II had a team batting effort against Keighley III at Haworth West End in Division Four.

Akram Javed (38), Mark Johnston (31), Mark Pickles (49) and Alan Coney (28no) were in the runs in their 214-5, and Keighley made a creditable 166 in reply as captain Coney took 3-37 and Brett Parkin 3-30.

Gargrave II could only field 10 men at Airedale II and lost by 43 runs.

Tom Vernon bagged 4-19 in Airedale’s 151-7 before the short-handed visitors were dismissed for 108, with Edward Stanley making 25 and Will Storr 23 not out.

Bradley II were castled for 87 at Sandy Lane by Bingley Congs III, with skipper Edward Washington (25) and David Ryan (20) doing best for the hosts in an eight-wicket loss.

There was a century in each innings at Ingrow II, for whom Abid Hussain made 100 in their 241-6.

Skipton CI II replied with 176, which was dominated by John Stuttard’s 114.