THERE was much more than local bragging rights at stake in the latest Aire-Wharfe League meeting between Bolton Villas and Thackley, the sides in the Division Two relegation spots.

It looked like going Villas way when they tore through the Thackley middle order. Two wickets for Amir Ditta, three from Lewis Brown – who finished with 4-49 – and one for Michael Oldfield saw the total slump from 64-2 to 98-8.

But Paul Naylor was still there, on his way to an unbeaten half-century, and he was joined by Shane Marshall, who raced to 65 not out off 46 balls to take Thackley to 195-8.

Lee Margerison (40) and Andrew Clarke (58) shared an opening stand of 71 but at 162-4 Marshall took two wickets in successive balls and he and Jack Young (4-54) bowled out Villas for 189, despite the efforts of Joe Lawrence (29no).

That opened up a gap of 20 points between the sides and, even though Upper Wharfedale beat Adel, an extra bonus point took Thackley above them and out of the bottom two for the first time since week two.

There was tension just above these teams, with Andy Wear (58) top-scoring in Harden's 209-9. This proved too much for Skipton, who were dismissed for 167 as Paul Quinlan took 4-29.

The pair are now locked together on 122 points, just six ahead of Thackley.

Tong Park Esholt are only two points better off after Follifoot passed their 127, in which Andrew Bourne hit 41, with three wickets to spare.

At the other end of the table, an unbeaten ninth-wicket stand of 109 between Neil Britton (41no) and Chris Spivey (60no) saw Green Lane to 253-8, before Spivey (4-39) starred again as second-placed North Leeds were dismissed for 217. Lane moved up to third, just ten points behind their opponents.

George Huntley followed up an unbeaten 48 with 3-11 off 2.2 overs as Otley took maximum points with a win over third-placed Bilton. Jamie Pickering (90) laid the foundation for the victory that puts Otley 13 points clear of Burley at the top of Division One.

Kyme Tahirkheli (3-44), a recent signing from Manningham Mills, and Jason Wright (3-14) bowled out Guiseley for 153 in reply to Burley's199, in which Nick Brook hit a half-century.

Defending champions Beckwithshaw are also not out of the picture after a fifth successive win, with their 312-5 too rich for Steeton.

Nathan Goldthorp (71) shared key stands with Conor McInerney (61) and George Myers (39) as Rawdon crushed Pool to climb above them and out of the bottom two.

Ben Rhydding raised hopes of escaping relegation with victory over Collingham after Bradley Ranford (5-28) and Alex Miller (4-35) dismissed the home side for 143. Ranford hit 43 in the run chase.

Will Spivey and James Pearson hit half-centuries and Luke Bott took 4-46 in Ilkley's 26-run win over Kirkstall.

Larry Edward (91no and 3-30) was the star as Horsforth beat Olicanian by 112 runs to stay clear at the top of Division Three.

But Calverley's hopes of promotion took a knock when they failed to overhaul Menston's 187. Charlie Parker followed up a half-century with 4-45 for Menston, while Naveed Panesar took 5-51 for Calverley.

Majid Inyat scored a century in Silsden's 293-8 and, despite 62 from Bevan Williams, Hall Park were still 68 short at the close with only one wicket left.

Will Atkins (89) helped Addingham to 208 before Henry Barrow (5-40) and Ricky Palacio (4-21) dismissed Woodhouse for 159.