Bradley face battle to avoid relegation (From Craven Herald)

Bradley face battle to avoid relegation

12:20pm Thursday 1st September 2011 in Craven League

With just two games to go Bradley have dropped into the Division One relegation zone.

Their six-wicket defeat against fellow strugglers Embsay and Cowling’s 105-run win over bottom team Connonley have left the South Craven side deep in trouble.

Bradley skipper Neil Andrews did his bit by hitting a sparking 95 as his side posted 165-6, but Embsay eased home in 38 overs with Jonathan Coward making 42 and David Wellock (40).

A third-wicket partnership of 98 between Martin Dalby (74) and Steve Mitchell (59) helped Cowling to make 217-9 despite the efforts of Billy Pinder (4-55) and Matthew Hayes (3-84).

The visitors crumpled to 113 in reply as Charlie Hassan took 5-47 and Dalby (4-30). The top contribution to the total came from 24 extras.

At the other end of the table leaders Oakworth bowled out Barrow- ford for 81 to seal a 47-run win, while Cullingworth remained four points behind after beating Haworth by eight wickets.

Third-placed Haworth Road dismissed Thornton for 162 to secure a 23-run win. Dave Scothern (72) and Mark Paxton (42) dominated the Thornton innings.

Division Two leaders Airedale won again as they defeated Wilsden by 46 runs.

Sutton edged two points ahead in the battle for the second promotion place after defeating lowly Riddles- den while rivals Ingrow’s game at Embsay II was abandoned due to a flooded square.

Skipper Simon Doane took 7-39 as Riddlesden were dismissed for 112.

After a bright start of 54 for the first wicket, Sutton slumped to 88-7 before Tony Walton (20no) and Justin Holdsworth (9no) took their side to the points.

Five teams, mathematically, could be relegated with Embsay II.

Glusburn helped their cause when they hammered Sandy Lane by eight wickets while Pendle Forest beat Long Lee by three wickets.

Foulridge leap-frogged Chatburn in the relegation battle after thrashing them by nine wickets at Noyna.

Oakworth II have one hand on the Division Three title after beating Gargrave while second-placed Ingrow St John’s surprisingly lost by six wickets at Crossflatts II.

A fourth-wicket partnership of 95 by Martin Rendell (72) and Andy Partington (73no) helped Culling- worth II to 236-7 as they beat Glusburn by 17 runs.

Denholme piled up 301-6 at Cononley II with Neil Spencer making 107no as Joel Grainger took 4-84. Grainger then made 75no in his side’s reply of 138-9.

John Drake was Skipton CI’s hero as his side beat Eldwick & Gilstead by 47 runs in a low-scoring game. First he made 24 as the Sandylands side posted a modest 96, then he took 5-11 off 15.3 overs to go with John Stuttard’s (4-14) as the Dick Hudson’s side were dismissed for just 49.

There is still a three-way tussle at the top of Division Four where Ingrow St John’s II, Barrowford II and Little Marsden all won.

The battle for the Division Five title is between Haworth II and Airedale II who are separated by just two points.

Haworth II had a ten-wicket win over Haworth WE, while Airedale II beat Cowling II by five wickets.

Thornton II saw off Sutton II by 105 runs and Eldwick & Gilstead II conceded their game to Skipton CI II.