COWLING have paid a heavy price for their first defeat of the season in the Mewies Solicitors Craven League Second Division.

Their two-wicket setback at Oakworth Seconds has given Thornton-in-Craven the outright leadership, with Oakworth's second string in third just a point behind the Keighley Road club.

Shahid Hassan (88), Martyn Dalby (57) and Ben Davy gave Cowling a massive middle-order boost on their way to 204-8 but it wasn't enough as Oakworth replied with 205-8 off 43.2 overs, Ajmal Choudhry taking 4-42 and Dalby 3-86.

Neil Andrews scored an unbeaten 124 for Bradley in their 230-5, Casper Bean hitting 39, but Denholme won by five wickets with an over to spare.

Mark Pickles (4-53) and Dave Atkinson (3-70) helped dismiss visitors Airedale for 180 in 36.4 overs, and they paid the penalty for not batting 45 overs when Glusburn replied with a solid 182-4 from 40.2, Matt Lloyd scoring 41, Neil Freeman 38, Ian Symons 36 and Steve Brown 33.

Embsay are in a four-way tie at the bottom of the First Division with Foulridge, Chatburn, and Sutton after making only 129 at Barrowford, Duncan Ward top-scoring with 29 after the hosts had scored 172, Phil Binner and Josh Robinson both taking 3-40.

Matt Walker's brave 97 for Sutton out of 196-6 was in vain at home to Oakworth, who won by eight wickets in just 34.3 overs, Justin Holdsworth bagging 2-34.

Skipton Church Institute are out of the relegation places in the Third Division after a 28-run victory at Ingrow St John's Seconds.

As usual, the visitors relied heavily on their top order, with Sean Williamson (56), Alex Horsfield (40) and Ian Henderson (33) leading the way in their 197.

John Stuttard (4-76) and Darren Pighills (3-46) then contained Saints to 169-8, pulling the victors up to eight points and leaving Haworth West End (also on eight points) and Bradford & Bingley Thirds (five) in the demotion berths.

Stephen Speak (5-66) and Gareth Wooller (64 and 2-24) were the main contributors for Embsay Seconds at Barrowford Seconds but they still lost by 50 runs.