SECOND Division Cullingworth could not bridge a gap of two divisions in their ENCO Halifax League Parish Cup semi-final.

After a tremendous job by the grounds team at Premier Division Illingworth St Mary’s, the game went ahead, with Cullingworth winning the toss and electing to bat in the sunshine, a weather rarity in league matches the previous day.

Openers Scott Pearson (18) and Ben Burkill (19) unfortunately lost their wickets after negotiating the first few overs, both falling to Jamie Moorhouse, who bowled unchanged to finish with 3-20 from nine overs.

Luke Brooksby joined the attack and soon had Jack Rogers caught for a six-ball duck.

At 47-4, there was concern in the Cullingworth dressing-room, and those fears were justified as wickets continued to fall, leaving No.6 Bilal Khalid as the top-scorer with 25.

The innings closed on 112, with Ben Robertshaw taking the last three wickets for 10 runs.

Gary Fellows and skipper Matthew Smith opened the Illingworth innings, but the latter in particular found early runs hard to come by.

Maybe a lack of trust in the bounce off the pitch was causing doubts, but gradually the runs began to flow.

Fellows was out for 45 with the score at 73-1, attempting a six off Ben Burkill, the one Cullingworth bowler who looked dangerous.

Jake Fellows lasted only six balls for a duck, but Stephen Cook (25no) joined his skipper to ensure his team’s passage to the final, with Smith finishing on 37 not out in the eight-wicket win.

It was of little surprise that the other semi-final at Thornton, where Bradshaw were visiting, was postponed, due to the ground being unfit after the continued downpours over Saturday and early Sunday.

Meanwhile, the heavy showers on Saturday meant that only six league matches were played to a conclusion.

Premier Division Oxenhope were perhaps lucky to get away with their abandonment.

Sowerby Bridge had made 150-6 in their 37 overs, with lowly Oxenhope slipping to 88-7 when the rains fell.

Cullingworth managed to play their league game in the Second Division too.

But it was a double weekend of no joy for them, as they lost a top of the table clash to Upper Hopton by four wickets.

They were bowled out for 159, with opener Pearson making 56, before Upper Hopton chased that down successfully with one ball of the 40th over remaining.

Augustinians have a 13-point lead at the summit, but the second promotion place is right up for grabs, with Queensbury, Hopton, Cullingworth and Sowerby St Peter’s all within a point of each other.

Oakworth would have been in that mix themselves, had they been able to completely a likely win at Stones.

The hosts were 79-9 and floundering but the rain saved them, as Oakworth were only able to pick up five points.