Skipton took another big step towards clinching the Division Three title with a nail-biting one-run win over Upper Wharfedale at Sandylands.

Their hero was former Barnoldswick captain Richard Nichols who took 6-26 as they just managed to defend a modest score of 100.

The result leaves Skipton 14 points ahead of Upper Wharfedale who retained second place because fellow promotion rivals Horsforth were defeated by Hall Park.

Skipton’s young batsmen Keir Nelson also played a big part in their slender win.

He top scored with 36 as his colleagues struggled against the accurate Upper Wharfedale attack.

Callum Lockett (3-24), Bobby Wilson (3-24) and Josh Gill (2-19) kept runs at a premium.

Upper Wharfedale’s inn- ings started disastrously as they plunged to 27-5.

Jake Schindler (24) and Dan Parkinson (22) revived their side’s hopes with a stand of 37, but despite the late efforts of Josh Gill (12) they were to fall tantalisingly short of their victory target.

It was a mighty relieved Skipton side that celebrated their victory.

Silsden only threatened to make a competitive total at Illingworth in Division Three when Nathan Bradbury (27) and Majid Inayat (30) were at the crease together.

They added 55 for the second wicket in a disappointing total of 118 which underlined their problem this season Only No 10 Joe Hunt (22) also made double figures as Alex Ledger (4-22) and Michael Bright (4-50) held sway.

Illingworth did lose five wickets in passing that total but recovered from 40-3 thanks to opener Matthew Battle (42) and Ledger (35), David Wynn taking 3-54 and Jack Rob-erts 2-31.

Meanwhile, Ricky Palacio hit an unbeaten century to give Addingham victory over Olicanian and put himself at the top of the Aire-Wharfe run-scorers.

The Kiwi opener included 18 fours in his 116no which took his tally for the season to 742, six ahead of Pool’s Josh Inglis. Addingham’s Johnny Johnson is also flying high on 666.

Harden remain favourites to drop out of Division One but they are not going down without a fight.

Richard Wear (93no) and Roshan Livera (55) rescued them from a worrying start at home to Steeton.

The men from Cuckoo’s Nest were 53-3 before Wear and Livera added 107 for the fourth wicket in 22 overs.

Wear hit three sixes and ten fours off 117 balls to help Harden to 235-9 during his 30 overs at the crease, Livera cracking nine fours in his 66-ball stay.

Steeton skipper Jon Best took the most wickets, although his three victims off 11 overs cost him 88, and opening bowler Stephen Pearson claimed 2-61 off 15, while more conomical were James Emmott (0-31 off ten) and Andrew Luxton (2-32).

Steeton got the solid start they needed in response, openers Ben Hillard (21) and Andrew Foulds putting on 77.

However, three Ben Burk-hill wickets pegged Steeton back at 98-4 before Luxton (42) joined Foulds to add 77 runs in just over 13 overs.

Foulds was then out for 119 off 135 balls, including 21 fours and a six, and Best (29) kept Steeton in the hunt in a breezy 21-ball knock.

Only two-and-a-half overs remained when Best was out, however, at 217, and Steeton could only muster 12 runs off the final 15 balls to fall seven runs short of victory with one wicket left.