OTLEY and Ben Rhydding finished the Aire-Wharfe League season in some style but it turned out to be a so-near-yet-so-far day as the prizes that they sought were snatched away from them.

Olicanian too rounded off the campaign with an outstanding performance, and their reward was to pip Saltaire to the Division Three championship.

Having had their match against Beckwithshaw washed out the week before, it was always going to be hard for Otley to make up the 12-point difference and take the league championship.

But they made sure they were ready should the leaders slip up, Chris Thompson taking 4-21 to take his season-wicket tally to 55 as Guiseley were skittled out for 68.

Stephen Brown (30no) and Ben Morley (28no) completed the win in 12.4 overs, and then it was just a case of waiting to see what Beckwithshaw did.

Almost inevitably, the Harrogate side picked up full points, reaching 227-9 before bowling out North Leeds for 107 and so retained their title and completed the league and cup double.

Ben Rhydding had long looked favourites to join Adel in promotion from Division Two, but the vagaries of the weather had allowed Follifoot to edge in front of them going into the final game.

Rob Withers took 4-42 as Ben Rhydding restricted Steeton to 133-7 before Struan Connor (63no) and Shane Wineti (40no) clinched an eight- wicket win.

That innings took Wineti to 801 runs for the season, topping the league’s batting with an average of 50.6.

Meanwhile, Follifoot enjoyed a comfortable win over Kirkstall Educational to take the second promotion spot and thwart a fine Ben Rhydding season.

At the other end of the division, Dwayne Heke took 5-36 as Leeds Modernians bowled out Calverley for 181 to earn enough bowling bonus points to ensure that they stayed up at the expense of Skipton.

Ben Waller hit a half-century for Calverley but Modernians went on to win by three wickets.

Skipton went down with a defeat, despite the efforts of Ben Holderness, who hit 49 in their 151 but Hall Park were seen over the line by Sam Dobson (33no).

Promotion already secured, Olicanian set out to overtake Saltaire at the top of Division Three and were soon on track, with Ed Broadley taking three cheap wickets as Bolton Villas were restricted to 89-6 in a restricted-overs match.

Chris Meehan (27no) and Harry Smallwood (54no) eased Olicanian to the title in 28 overs.

Although there was not much at stake elsewhere, there were some fine performances, especially from bowlers, who produced some cliff-edge finishes.

Toby Jacklin, Division One’s top wicket-taker despite being in a relegated side, picked up 5-42 as Rawdon were restricted to 117.

But Jake Hodge (4-53) and Bradley Reeve, whose 3-42 saw him reach 50 wickets, stepped up and dismissed Collingham for 99.

Nick Cockcroft produced a man-of-the-match performance as Ilkley beat Pool in a low-scoring affair.

He was top scorer with 26 in Ilkley’s 107, but Pool openers Charlie Bell and Cameron Duncan looked set to overhaul that on their own until Cockcroft ran out Duncan and then took 6-24 to bowl out Pool for 98.

Horsforth finished the campaign on a winning note, Chris Gordon (31no) and Tom Colley (35no) steering them past Bilton’s 176.

Shane Hetherington (47) and Red Bolton (43) were the main contributors to Burley’s 199, which was too good for relegated Colton.

Mahir Ali ensured he ended as the league’s top bowler with a 7-41 spell, taking him to 66 victims in the season and bowling out Division Two champions Adel for 73 to earn a 55-run win for Tong Park Esholt.

With Danny Maguire (5-53) causing problems, Addingham looked as though they might be struggling at 121-6, but the lower-order batting came to their rescue.

Ricky Palacio (57), Ben Brearley (60) and Darrell Robinson (44no) – the latter two each hitting six sixes – helped them race to 315-9.

That was far too good for relegated Thackley, who were dismissed for 125, Jack DeAth taking 4-13.

In Division Three, despite the efforts of Azhar Mahmood (6-22), Green Lane couldn’t defend a meagre 115 total, Amer Ayoub following up a 5-18 haul with top score of 27 as Menston got home with one wicket in hand.

James Roper (55) and Matthew Topham (45) were the main contributors as Harden beat St Chads Broomfield by four wickets.

Daniel Viles had taken 4-42 as St Chads set a 194-9 target.