ON A day when the bottom six in Division Two of the Aire-Wharfe League were up against fellow strugglers, Harden, Skipton and Tong Park Esholt pulled off vital wins while sending their defeated opponents deeper into trouble.

Greg Newark steadied a Harden innings that was struggling against the accuracy of Thackley strike bowler Shane Marshall.

Newark made 56 not out and his eighth-wicket stand with Lee Spragg helped his side to 202-8 and a fourth batting bonus.

Thackley started brightly but Andy Bailey (4-46) and Robin Hopwood (3-32) took control and dismissed the hosts for 144.

Ben Holderness (81) starred in Skipton's 188 before Andy Rushton (4-34) and Richard Nichols (4-21) bowled out Upper Wharfedale for just 99.

Four cheap wickets for Dan Bell helped skittle Bolton Villas for 79 and, despite the efforts of Lewis Brown (4-48), Tong Park Esholt eased to victory.

With four games left, Harden jumped to seventh place with 152 points, followed by Tong Park Esholt (151), Skipton (150), Thackley (144), Upper Wharfedale (139) and Bolton Villas (102).

At the other end of the table, Chris Spivey (4-18) and Neil Britton (4-19) dismissed Adel for 77, a total that openers Waleed Akhtar

(57no) and Michael Abbott (25no) cruised past to keep alive Green Lane's hopes of grabbing a promotion spot.

James Davies (46) and James Wilcock (42no) top-scored as Division One leaders Otley reached 187-8 – and then each picked up three wickets as Pool crashed out for 86.

Bradley Reeve (4-28) helped restrict Rawdon to 158-8 – a total Guiseley overhauled with one wicket to spare thanks mainly to Brian Jackson, whose 85 took him to 213 in his last three innings.

Henry Wilson (6-26) and Paul Dover (3-44) dismissed Steeton for 131, which looked as if it might be a winning score when Jonathan Best (5-33) had Ilkley reeling at 8-3.

Will Spivey (43) started the revival and, when he was out at 85-6, brother Rob (35) took over as Ilkley finally won by two wickets.

Horsforth's third derby win of the season over Hall Park took them to within touching distance of the Division Three title.

Horsforth were struggling on 97-6 when Larry Edward (73) and Mahir Ali (59) put on 82 for the seventh wicket on the way to 220. Jonathan Postle, Bev Williams and Matt Williams each picked up three wickets.

Ali (4-29) and Edward (4-22) then combined to dismiss Park for 82, the third time their derby rivals have bowled them out for less than 100.

Horsforth look like being joined in promotion by Illingworth, who comfortably overcame Silsden after bowling them out for 131.

Alastair Long (111) and Tom Westerman (5-47) starred as Calverley crushed Woodhouse by 108 runs, while Addingham made it six wins in a row with a 36-run victory at Olicanian.