STEETON may not have won in the Aire-Wharfe League Premier Division on Saturday, but their eight-run defeat at perennial title contenders Otley showed that the top-flight new boys belong in the highest tier.

The visitors won the toss and chose to field, skipper Steve Pearson finishing with 4-66 off 9.5 overs, being the bowler with the most wickets but also the worst economy rate in Otley’s 214 all out.

Tidier were Barbadian Tremaine Dowrich (15-5-35-2) and Paul Quinlan (14-2-49-2), while Ewan Johnston also picked up two wickets for 30 from his five overs of spin.

In the reply, Luke Chapman (52) and Ben Hemsley (58), who both hit seven fours, put on 93 for the third wicket after the early loss of James Robinson and Dowrich.

Keeper Adam Smith also kept Steeton in the hunt with 43 at No.8.

But with time running out, they lost three wickets for two runs to end up nine runs short of victory with a ball to spare.

That defeat leaves Steeton in second from bottom, but only five points separate them in 11th from North Leeds in fifth.

Harden are also second from bottom in Division One, but, like in the Premier Division, things are very congested down there, with just six points separating 11th from fifth.

Cellar dwellers Calverley were Harden’s hosts, and the latter won the toss and chose to bat.

The visitors were indebted to Toby Priestley, who came to the wicket at 6-1 and left it at 130-8, having scored 65 from 53 balls, including seven fours and two sixes.

Owen Narey (23) helped him put on 65 for the fifth wicket, with Martin Walker (18) the only other player to reach double figures as they collapsed from 129-6 to 130 all out.

But that proved to be enough, because although six Calverley players got into double figures, no-one bettered 17 as they were dismissed for 105.

Harden’s new-ball bowlers Matthew Hogg (4-44) and Ben McGonigle (5-53) shared nine of the 10 wickets in their side’s 25-run victory.