RAWDON’S Ben Morley has seldom enjoyed a better weekend of cricket in his life.

Setting a new individual league and club record with an outstanding 237 not out in his side’s Division One match against Beckwithshaw on Saturday, he then added a record-breaking 199 runs in the Waddilove Cup final against Pool on Sunday, making him the first known player to score over 400 runs across an Aire-Wharfe League weekend.

Placed into bat by Beckwithshaw, Rawdon romped to a fantastic 412-2, with Morley making 237 not out from 143 deliveries – including 24 fours and 15 sixes – backed up by wicketkeeper James Dobson’s career-best 125 in a 286-run partnership for the second wicket.

The win was never in doubt for the hosts, with Peter Hotchkiss (46) top-scoring in Beckwithshaw’s reply of just 134, Joe Smith (4-10) leading the charge with the ball to help his side cruise to a 278-run victory.

Saltaire remain the favourites to claim the title, extending their lead to 46 points after easing to an eight-wicket win against Addingham at Roberts Park.

The visitors were perhaps left regretting their decision to bat, with skipper Ted Haggas (34) the only batsman to make an impact in their disappointing 122, with Sajad Ali (4-27) impressing with the ball.

Ricky Palacio (2-48) dismissed the big-hitting Mutashan Ali Shah inside the first over, but the league leaders soon showed their dominance with the bat.

Danish Hussain (51 not out) and wicketkeeper Bilal Hamid (43 no) formed a 72-run partnership to see the hosts to their target with almost half their overs to spare.

A 157-run victory at Olicanian saw Burley-in-Wharfedale claim the maximum 20 to move up to second.

Batting first, the visitors made a strong start, with openers Jason Wright (84) and Joe Hall (18) putting on 70 for the first wicket, before Redmond Bolton added 67 from 40 balls to help his side to 268-7.

Olicanian struggled to a below-par 111 in reply. The wickets were shared between five of Burley’s seven bowlers, with openers Fletcher Coutts (2-8) and Shane Etherington (2-15) the most economical.

Elsewhere, Ilkley dominated in a nine-wicket win at home to Horsforth, with the Leeds side falling further adrift at the bottom of the table.

Extras (23) top-scored for the visitors in their below-par 104 as Luke Bott (3-11) and James Nixon (3-31) starred with the ball.

The hosts needed just 20.5 overs to dispatch Horsforth’s total, with a 92-run stand between Terry Pattinson (47 no) and Alex Bailey (46) easing them to a comprehensive victory.

Captains led from the front as North Leeds moved away from the relegation zone with a two-wicket win at home to Collingham & Linton.

After a slow start, a 155-run partnership between skipper Toby Jacklin (104) and Charlie Swallow (75) formed the backbone of the visitors’ 211-8, with Adam Copley (3-51) the best of the bowlers.

But North Leeds captain Taran Chana replied with a century of his own, scoring 16 fours on his way to a match-winning 108 not out, despite the best efforts of Jacklin (5-52).

New Rover show no signs of faltering at the top of Division Two, picking up the maximum 20 with a 165-run win against Bardsey at the Richmond Oval.

Batting first, the hosts made an excellent 287-5 thanks to skipper Michael Richmond (68) and Aqsad Ali, who scored 93 not out from just 45 deliveries, with Amjad Ali (3-66) the best of the visiting bowlers.

Ali (3-27), Mohammed Khan (3-32), and Minhaj Patel (3-33) ensured Bardsey never came close in their reply, with captain Tom Franklin comfortably the best of the batters as his side struggled to just 122.

Pool remain in second after comfortably beating Steeton by six wickets at Summerhill Lane.

Steeton finished with a respectable 190-6 from their overs, with middle-order Mat Nutter (47), Stevie Pearson (41 no), and John Akrigg (38) adding the bulk as Will Pallister (3-47) and Sam O’Sullivan (2-39) did the damage with the ball.

A 105-run partnership between openers Cameron Duncan (53) and Krutik Patel (45) set Pool up nicely in their reply, with Pallister’s 38 seeing his side to victory midway through the 42nd over.

Horsforth Hall Park move up to third at the expense of Tong Park Esholt (who fell to a disappointing 72-run defeat against Kirkstall Educational) after a nail-biting finish at home to Colton Institute.

Colton’s Tom Glover (5-48) and Jonathon Horner (4-37) enjoyed a productive afternoon with the ball, bowling the hosts out for just 127.

However, Horsforth were equally impressive in the field, Michael Kelsey (5-28) and John Brough (3-16) seeing the hosts to a narrow three-run victory.

On Sunday, all eyes turned to that aforementioned Waddilove Cup final between Rawdon and Pool, hosted by Kirkstall Educational.

Electing to bat, Rawdon reached an incredible 339-7 from their 45 overs, with Morley continuing his record-breaking weekend with a magnificent batting display.

He was unstoppable with the bat, scoring 22 fours and 11 sixes on his way to a cup record 199, before coming agonizingly short of his second double century of the weekend after being run out by Rob Goldthorp with the final ball of the innings.

Krutik Patel (142) and Will Pallister (52) put on 158 for the first wicket to keep Pool’s run rate firmly ahead until the closing stages, but Morley’s 4-43 ensured the Division Two side could not match his side’s spectacular 101 from the final six overs, with the cup returning to Rawdon for the first time since 1950.