DENHOLME, relegated in 2019, are making a good fist of getting back into the First Division at the first attempt in the Craven League.

Having won the toss at home to winless Bradford & Bingley Thirds, the home side rattled up 235-8, with Toby Priestley hitting his second century of the season.

He cracked 12 fours and five sixes in his 111, made off just 94 balls, adding 136 for the third wicket with Richard Taylor (45).

The B&B third team were then dismissed for just 88, Priestley completing a stellar match with 4-15, Taylor taking 3-16 and Phil Poole Jnr 2-16.

Gargrave and Bradley have also won three out of three, with the latter having a comfortable afternoon at home to Silsden.

Wicket-keeper and captain David Hunt again led the way for the hosts with 35, as under-17 Toby Meynell chipped in with 33 in Bradley's total of 171, with Ben Sugden toiling away to take 5-52 for the visitors.

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

Long Lee, like Denholme, also had a century maker - this time Zaffran Ghafoor, who batted throughout their innings of 259-5 for his 109 not out.

He hit 11 fours and six sixes in his 110-ball stay, adding 111 unbroken with Stephen Butterfield (56no).

Opponents Eldwick & Gilstead were then castled for 120, with Ian Roberts (4-22) and Abdul Rizwan (3-33) doing most of the damage.

Cononley, like Bradford & Bingley, have yet to win and did not stop home side Barrowford II for long after being dismissed for 66, going down to a six-wicket defeat.

Mathew Cox’s ton was in vain for Airedale, who also lost by six wickets at Gargrave.

Cox’s 117 dominated his team’s 183-6, his 123-ball knock being sprinkled with 16 fours and two sixes, but Gargrave won in the 38th over of the reply.

In Division One, Mohammed Shah Usman was man of the match for Cowling in their 19-run victory at Haworth.

He scored 62, an innings that contained seven fours and four sixes, in Cowling’s 149.

Neil Rollins (5-38) and Jacob Hudson (3-44) were best with the ball for Haworth, but Usman took 3-20 as they were dismissed for 130 in their reply.

Unbeaten Oakworth had a comfortable afternoon, dismissing hosts Sutton for 139 before knocking that off 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 in their 139 as James Powell (3-19) and Tom Fothergill (3-35) made an impact.

Under-19 Harry Hollingsworth just reached his half-century, adding 93 unbroken for Oakworth’s third wicket with Liam Humphreys (47no), as they triumphed in the 30th over.

Wilsden won by three wickets in a low-scoring match at home to Ingrow, who could only make 115, largely thanks to Ben Pursey (29).

Pursey then took 3-28 in Wilsden’s 116-7, who won off the last ball of the 26th over.

Nerves were jangling in another game where runs were at a premium - this time in Division Three at Cowling.

The home side’s second string made 115, Danyal Mahmood (40) leading the way against Danny Spencer (5-43) and the reliable Stuart Jackson (3-26).

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.

Darren Ellerton (39) was the main run-getter for Haworth, Sajid Shafait taking 3-8.

An even lower-scoring affair came at Glusburn, who were dismissed for 65, despite opener Iain Beattie hitting a defiant 24.

Arfan Mahmood (5-8) and Mohammed Zulfiqar (4-19) cut a swathe through the innings 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 as Akeel Rashid (27) defied Irfan Khaliq (4-21) and Dominic Mortimer (3-38).

Denholme II were in the runs at Gargrave II, scoring 191-8 thanks to Josh Wheatley (60), but the home side knocked off the runs for the loss of three wickets in the 31st over.

Oakworth II were even more prolific, hitting 218-3 at home to Sutton II, under-18 opener Bilaal Khan making 67, including seven fours and three sixes.

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

Ingrow II are leading the way in Division Four with three wins out of three, and also had a ton maker in Abid Hussain.

He scored exactly 100, including 21 fours, in their 241-6 at home to Skipton CI II. Adrian Weatherall then took 3-13 in CI’s reply of 176.

It was more of a team batting effort for Glusburn II against Keighley III at Haworth West End.

Akram Javed (38), Mark Johnston (31) and Mark Pickles (49) were in the runs in their 214-5, Raheem Hussain taking 3-58, and Keighley made a creditable 166 in reply, opener Nadeem Munawar scoring 70, including eight fours and three sixes.

Captain Hrithik Patel (28) was their only other player to keep the scorers busy, however, as Glusburn skipper Alan Coney took 3-37 and Brett Parkin 3-30.

Both teams can be satisfied with their efforts as well at Long Lee, whose second string scored 249-2 against Oakworth III.

Steve Tempest (94) and Phillip Atkinson (77) put on 167 for the second wicket, with Tempest hitting 14 fours and Atkinson a boundary less.

Keith Gilert then scored 82 in Oakworth’s 163-2, hitting 15 fours and two sixes, with under-14 Mohammed Saad scoring 34 up front.

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