Keighley 134 all out

Scholes 78 all out

KEIGHLEY returned to the top of the All Rounder Bradford Premier League Championship One following a 56-run win over bottom-placed Scholes.

Losing the toss, Paul Quinlan’s side were asked to bat first. Keighley had three first-team players missing and were soon in trouble after a couple of early wickets left them at 15-2.

The middle order, though, showed some resistance with the likes of Louis Horsfield (26), Alex Antoine (26), Johnny Wilkinson (31), Quinlan (14) and James Rogers (17) all making starts but not being able to go on and post a big score.

Scholes found their talisman in 17-year-old spinner Jude Roberts who took 5-43, spinning the home side out for 134 in the 40th over on a wicket that looked as if a par score would be 200.

Accurate, disciplined bowling from James Rogers and overseas Alex Antoine made sure the visitors never got chance to get near their target. Scholes skipper Craig Wood offered the only resistance with a fine 40 as the away side were dismissed for just 78 in the 26th over.

Rogers finished with 3-18 off seven overs, with Antoine yet again the star with 5-13 off 10.

Meanwhile, Keighley’s second string, yet again much depleted and including four third-team players made the long journey to Carlton this past weekend.

Winning the toss, Keighley skipper Alex Towler asked the home side to bat first.

Keighley’s young bowling attack bowled with discipline throughout the Carlton innings and they did not get the luck that their bowling deserved.

Several missed catches and controversial umpiring decisions did not help, and Carlton ended up posting 203-9 in their allotted 45 overs. Towler himself was the pick of the bowling attack with 4-23, backed up by Jack Rogers (3-33).

Keighley’s reply was always going to be short due to losing wickets at key moments in their innings.

Top scorer Owen Narey (31), new signing Adam Qurban (18), Towler (20) and Rogers (26) all made starts but could not go on to see their side home. Keighley were eventually dismissed for 128.

Meanwhile, Keighley’s firsts entertained Hanging Heaton of the Premier League in the second round of the Priestley Cup.

Ex-Yorkshire player and Hanging Heaton skipper Gary Fellows won the toss and asked the home side to bat first.

Keighley were again depleted, with four of their players missing including Richard Gould.

Their weakened line-up struggled from the first ball against the likes of Thomas Chippendale (1-11), Josh Holling (2-33) and especially Callum Bethel (6-19) who dismissed the Lawkholme Laners for a paltry 115 in the 36th over. Top scorer was opener Luke Chapman with 22, Johnny Wilkinson chipped in with 19.

Showing no mercy, the Premier League side then turned the screw and set about Keighley’s bowling line-up with vigour.

Openers Fellows and Nick Connolly smashing the ball to every part of the ground as the Premier League side romped home to their target in just the 15th over for the loss of no wickets.

Fellows finished on 50 not out (hitting a six off the last ball to get there) whilst Connolly finished on 40no.