SKIPTON suffered last-day heartache as Pool beat them by four wicket and pipped them for promotion to the Aire-Wharfe League’s top flight.

It was the Sandylanders third-successive defeat and left them reflecting on what might have been.

Their losses to Illingworth, Thackley and Pool saw them drop from first to fourth place in just a fortnight.

In contrast Pool, who were relegated last year, only made it into the top two for the first this season after Saturday’s win.

Heavy rain led to the start being delayed and the match being reduced to 25 overs per side. It was no surprise when Pool asked Skipton to bat first when they won the toss.

Skipton were quickly on the back foot with only Steve Carling (52) managing to control the conditions.

Carling hit three sixes and four fours but lacked support as Sam Wilkinson produced a devastating 5.3-over spell of 5-12, which included two wickets in three balls at one stage.

Wilkinson also finished off the 94-run innings with two in two.

Pool didn’t find batting much easier. The lost their first wicket at one and when they had only ten on the board, Shahid Nadeem struck twice in three balls.

Veteran John Goldthorp (27) managed to steady things but wickets kept tumbling and it took a seventh-wicket stand of 20 between Adil Mehmood and skipper Ben Platt to clinch the win and promotion.

Skipton will be joined in Division Two next season by Addingham. They clinched the Division Three title with victory over Hall Park.

Nathan Harford picked up 4-32 while Rob Ellis (5-50), took three wickets in one over to round off Park’s innings at 136.

Openers Will Atkins and Ricky Palacio steadied any nerves with a half-century stand and Atkins (76no) and Ben Brearley (31no) clinched the six-wicket win that clinched top spot for Addingham.

Steeton’s 14th defeat in 22 games saw them finish an inconsistent campaign in tenth position in Division One/

Once again their batsmen found the going tough in a match reduced Steeton found Toby Jacklin (5-9) and Chris Bridge (5-18) almost unplayable and were dismissed for 86 on the way to an eight-wicket defeat.

Stephen Pearson (24) and John Akrigg (20) were the only batsmen who suggested they might get to grips with the bowling. Collingham had no such problems and eased to their target.

Silsden finished the season propping up Division Three. Their last chance of securing a first win quite literally went down the drain as their match at Upper Wharfedale was washed out without a ball being bowled.