HALL Park and Calverley threw the formbook out of the window, beating highly-fancied Aire-Wharfe League Division Two promotion candidates in matches often played to a background of rumbling thunder.

It would have been easy for a casual spectator to be confused watching the action at Hall Park.

After all, fourth-placed Leeds Modernians had won three of their previous four completed matches, including making the only dent in Adel’s perfect start, while Park were struggling in the bottom two.

But the action on the pitch didn’t reflect that.

Tom Lester - Park’s recent signing from Menston - set the tone with a century as they cruised to 223-6 in 38 overs.

He then took 3-28 and teamed up with James Carlill, whose 11-over, 5-41 spell included a hat-trick, to bowl out the visitors for 168.

Calverley faced an even tougher task at second-placed Kirkstall, but Christopher Coates had the home side on the back foot with a 5-62 spell, and Nav Panesar rounded their innings off on 192 with four wickets in 11 balls to finish with 5-47.

Alex West (67) and Scott Driscoll (43) put Calverley on their way with a second-wicket stand of 91, and Daniel Hall (26no) and Daniel Holah (15no) completed the four-wicket win.

Adel remain the side to catch after they comfortably accounted for third-placed Follifoot, with Ben Rhydding moving up as nearest challengers after Rob Withers (4-32) and Robbie Miller (60) starred in their win over bottom side Thackley.

Steeton moved up to fourth with a win over Tong Park Esholt, despite the efforts of Mohammed Nadim (6-53), who helped bowl them out for 179, John Akrigg top-scoring on 48.

In the reply, Gareth Wilkinson included five fours and two sixes in his 42, but Paul Hardwick (5-38) and Stephen Pearson (3-54) made sure of Steeton’s victory.

Ben Holderness took 4-16 as Addingham crashed for 130, and it took Skipton just 23.1 overs to complete the win that sent their opponents into the bottom two.

Holderness scored 30 and Majid Inayat 41 not out.

An undefeated century from Steve Bullen helped Division One leaders Beckwithshaw pass second-placed Bilton’s 225-4 total with one ball to spare, and gave Burley and Guiseley the chance to move above Bilton.

Richard Brook (89) top-scored in Burley’s 227-7, and a 5-24 spell from Shane Etherington helped to dismiss Ilkley for 138.

With Marcus Brown (5-46) and Richard Nichols (3-2) on song, Rawdon lost their last six wickets for 15 runs to finish on 81, and even though Guiseley didn’t find batting much easier, they clinched victory by five wickets, with skipper Stewart Smith making 28.

David Paynter (74), Patrick Dixon (53), Ryan Sharrocks (63no) and John Goldthorp (35no) inspired Pool to 245-4 in 43 overs, but 81 from Stephen Brown and 51 from Nathan Goldthorp ensured Otley clinched victory in 42.5 overs.

A hat-trick in a 4-24 spell from Christopher Bridge and 6-13 from Toby Jacklin helped Collingham skittle out North Leeds for 38 in the battle of the bottom two, and moved Collingham level on points with Horsforth, who could only manage six points from a rain-affected draw at Colton.

Saltaire continue to lead Division Three after a 30-run win over Bolton Villas in which Hamad Ul Hassan scored 60 and took 4-48.

Henry Crossley (54) and Zarshad Khan (42no) headed Menston’s 220-6 but a half-century from Chris Meehan and Dave Healey’s unbeaten 108, which included ten fours and eight sixes, gave victory to Olicanian and keeps them hot on Saltaire’s heels.

Harden moved up to third after a comfortable win over Green Lane, Alex Antoine following up a half-century with 5-34 and linking up with Andy Bailey (4-19) to dismiss Lane for 87.