NOT even the rain could save struggling Steeton from a fourth Aire-Wharfe Division One defeat in a row.

They asked title-chasing Beckwithshaw to bat first and were soon made to suffer as the visitors raced to 225-3 in just 28 overs and declared after securing maximum batting points.

Opener John Inglis put the bowlers to the sword with a superb innings of 107. He made his runs from just 61 balls and hit nine sixes and seven fours.

Steeton never looked like matching their opponents' score. Openers Adam Hardwick (26) and John Akrigg (22) gave them a reasonable start with a stand of 46, but things went downhill after that as Eugene Burzler (5-33) and Yassar Ali (3-21) got to work.

Steeton were eventually all out for 117 after facing 39.2 overs, 11.2 overs more than Beckwithshaw took to compile their title.

The result took Beckwithshaw to the top while Steeton now find themselves 15 points adrift at the other end of the table.

Skipton were unable to cash in on another fine bowling display from their South African player Pieter Coetzer as rain disrupted their Division Two match at Knaresborough.

Coetzer took 5-45 and was backed up by Gary Owens (3-23) as Knaresborough made 165 in 43 overs, James Keane (51) and Kiefer Peries (35) were their top scorers.

Skipton were unable to generate any real momentum when they batted. They were kept in check by a fine 15 over spell from Tom Metcalfe which earned him figures of 4-16. Coetzer (22) and Ben Holderness (22no) were the top scorers as Skipton as they finished on 109-6 after 37 overs. It meant that both sides had to settle for three points for the abandonment plus bonus points.

Addingham moved up to second place in Division Two with a 68-run win over Calverley. Adingham made 172 before dismissing their rivals for 104 with Ted Haggas taking 4-9.

Upper Wharfedale's struggles show no sign of ending after they suffered an eight-wicket defeat at the hands of Bardsey in Division Three.

Rain reduced the contest to 25 overs a side and Upper Wharfedale made 116-9 when they batted first. Dan Stockdale (41) and Jake Kelly (25no) were their top scorers.

Bardsey passed the Upper Wharfedale total with just two wickets down and three overs to spare. Opener Andrew Bowes hit an unbeaten 40.

Zarshad Khan marked his move to Menston by masterminding the destruction of his former club Silsden. H

is undefeated 31 helped Menston to 193-7 and he then combined with Nadeem Hanif (4-26) and took 3-20 as Silsden crashed out for 59.