ON the back of a difficult trip to Jer Lane the previous week, Keighley looked to make amends at home to Wrenthorpe in their Gordon Rigg Bradford Premier League Division One match this past weekend.

On yet another fabulous batting track, Keighley skipper Scott Etherington did not think twice on electing to bat first after winning the toss.

Openers Etherington and Billy Whitford got off to a great start and guided their team to 49 before Etherington missed a straight one, being given lbw for 30.

This spurred Wrenthorpe on and two more wickets fell with Whitford going for 25 and overseas star Noah McFadyen only making four, leaving the Lawkholme Laners on a precarious 70-3.

But Ben Helmsley and Simon Bailey dug in and they cautiously put on a 53-run partnership before Helmsley was bowled for 25.

But the platform had been set and Bailey was joined at the crease by Paul Quinlan with the veteran pair putting on a free-scoring 101 partnership before Bailey finally succumbed for an impressive 80.

Wrenthorpe’s misery continued however as this brought Adam Smith to the crease who bludgeoned a quick-fire 31 not out to add to Quinlan’s 66 as Keighley closed their innings on a huge 290- 7 in their 50 overs.

Wrenthorpe’s response was very cautious and McFadyen (3-40) looking to make up for his batting blip got the early breakthroughs.

But it was seamer Whitford that did most of the damage finishing with 5- 57 as the away team crumbled to 161 all out, some 129 runs short of their target.

Skipper Etherington was a happy man and cited the fact that his team are not just dependent on McFadyen and the missing Nathan Storton to make the runs.

This second victory of the season puts Keighley eighth in Division One on 54 points from their first five matches.

Keighley make the journey to old rivals East Bierley this coming weekend in their sixth Division One clash.

Meanwhile, Keighley’s second team looking to rebound from their loss to Brighouse the previous weekend made the long journey to high-flying Altoft’s in the reserves Division Two of the Bradford Premier League.

Keighley skipper Jamie Wilmshurst lost the toss and was invited to field first on a pitch that looked to favour batting rather than bowling.

But Keighley’s openers started brightly and, at 63-4, the home team were in trouble.

This brought together David Robson (49) and skipper Bradley Barber who steadied the Altoft ship putting on 108 for the fifth wicket.

Barber was eventually out for 72 but had helped to guide his team to 202-7 at the interval.

Pick of the Keighley bowlers was Harry Barker who finished with 2-15.

Altoft’s bowlers were not prepared for what came next as Humayan Shahzad opened up the innings instead of his normal middle order slot.

The Keighley veteran brutalised the Altoft attack who had no answer to his big hitting; scoring 136 off just 96 deliveries before inevitably being caught on the boundary. His innings included nine sixes and 10 fours.

This vicious knock made life much easier for his team-mates who managed to get the away team to its victory target for just four wickets down with three overs to spare.

The seconds will look to build on this victory when they entertain Wakefield St Michaels at Lawkholme this weekend.