SKIPTON and Thackley opened up the Aire-Wharfe League DIVISION TWO title race by inflicting defeats on promotion favourites Horsforth and Colton.

Horsforth looked set to stretch their winning run to eight matches when they restricted Skipton to 177-9, in which Shahid Nadeem (39) and Kevin Owens (41) were the main contributors.

But that swiftly changed when their top five batsmen were sent back in 11 overs with just six runs on the board.

Even though Ollie Hardaker (57) and Mahir Ali (66) steadied things for a while with a stand of 95, Nadeem (3-24) and Richard Nichols (3-33) saw Horsforth bowled out for 161.

For fourth-placed Skipton to beat the leaders was less of a surprise than relegation-threatened Thackley bringing down Colton, especially after the visitors had set a formidable 259-7 target.

But Sidhant Adhatrao stepped up to the mark and with a brilliant unbeaten 122 in 123 balls, including an unbeaten century stand with Danny Maguire (23), he steered Thackley to a three-wicket win that lifts them out of the drop zone.

Their place has been taken by Tong Park Esholt, who lost by seven wickets to bottom club Green Lane, who took a step towards shaking off their 74-point deduction.

Michael Slater (4-43) restricted the home side to 169-6, in which Darren Wilson (44) and Will Marray (53no) made the main contribution before Andy Lee (63) led Lane’s successful response.

An 11-over spell of 5-11 from Sam Wilson and David Amos’s 4-46 skittled out Knaresborough for 64, setting up a comfortable win for Pool that keeps them in the promotion race.

Red Bolton (77) and Charlie Swallow (67) starred as Ben Rhydding made it four wins in a row, beating Illingworth by 32 runs.

Despite of the efforts of Matthew Hogg (4-43), Adel comfortably passed the 115 of Harden, who are now only three points above the relegation zone.

The tightest finish in DIVISION ONE came at Follifoot where Burley looked to be on course to overhaul the home side’s 222-8 while Ed Brown (45), Richard Brook (38) and Sam Fox (37) were going well.

But they lost their last five wickets in 46 balls with only 16 runs added to lose by 15.

That victory lifted Follifoot off the bottom at the expense of Ilkley, who are still without a win after Bilton passed their 199 total with five wickets in hand.

Stewart Smith (47) and Michael Stannard (40) led Guiseley’s pursuit of Collingham’s 258-5 but they were well short at the end and are now only two points above Follifoot.

At the other end of the table, second-placed Beckwithshaw were unable to pick up any batting points in beating North Leeds, allowing Otley to edge a little further clear at the top by beating Rawdon.

James Davies (4-36) did the greatest damage as Rawdon were dismissed for 176 in which No 7 Ryan Gladwin hit a defiant 75. Ben Morley cracked 18 fours in his 110 not out as Otley cruised home.

Stephen Pearson (62), Tom Stead (48) and James Emmott (47) couldn’t find enough support and Steeton were bowled out for 250 in reply to 301-7 from Kirkstall, who would seem to be the only team capable of challenging the top two.

DIVISION THREE is far less straightforward, with only 22 points between top and eighth place.

Calverley threw a spanner in the works of leaders New Rover when Jatinder Singh (4-40) and Tom Westerman (3-26) masterminded their dismissal for 178.

Julian Thornhill (63) led the response and, despite a scare early on, Dan Hill (38no) and Singh (38no) clinched the win.

That allowed Addingham to go back into top spot after Johnny Johnson (185) and Ricky Palacio (59) inspired them to 303, with Will Parker taking 6-53. Kyle Smith hit a century in the reply but Menston were bowled out for 170.

David Healey (76) and Mathew Webb (41no) starred in Olicanian’s 241-7, which proved too much for Bolton Villas despite a quick-fire 105 not out from Luke Stockhill.

Gary Walton (46) was top-scorer in Hall Park’s 197, which proved enough to beat Bardsey by three runs.

Despite the good form of Chris Meehan (59 & 5-72) and Matthew Shuttleworth (4-67), Silsden went down by 137 runs to Old Modernians.