Keighley tightened their grip on the lead of the Bradford League Second Division with an emphatic win over second placed Brighouse on Saturday.

Skipper, Steve Reape, won the toss and invited the home side to bat.

Brighouse struggled to make any headway and were dismissed for a meagre 68.

The tone was set by Nick Austin claiming a wicket with the first ball of the match and finished with figures of 5-20 off 13.1 overs in a lively spell that was at times bordering on the hostile.

Not one to miss out on the action, Richard Robinson claimed 3-22 with his perplexing spin backed up by talisman Ross Towler who justified his selection for the Bradford League side with figures of 2-25.

In reply Keighley eased past the Brighouse total for the loss of three wickets. Matthew Bottomley laid the foundation of the Keighley innings and was unbeaten at the end on 35. Robert Hopkinson hit the winning runs finishing with 15 not out ensuring that all six points returned to Lawkholme Lane.

Keighley's lead at the top of Division Two has now stretched to eight points and they are looking like the team to beat.

Due to an odd number of teams in the division, they are not in league action this weekend but on Sunday entertain Saltaire in the Heavy Woollen Cup. It will be the first time this year that Keighley have met First Division opposition and will be a good benchmark of how much progress has been made.

BRIGHOUSE v KEIGHLEY

BRIGHOUSE

R Barron b Austin 0

N Robinson lbw Robinson 4

A Rehman c Robinson b R Towler 0

J Stansfield c Wood b Austin 4

Z Raje lbw R Towler 16

S Bashir c R Towler b Robinson 12

M Horne b Austin 9

R Robinson c Wood b Austin 1

M Seraj lbw Robinson 4

R Hill c R Towler b Austin 10

C Woodhead not out 2

Extras 6 Total 68

Bowling: N Austin 13.1-7-20-5, R Towler 10-3-25-2, R Robinson 10-3-22-3.

KEIGHLEY

A Broadley b Hill 12

M Bottomley not out 35

L Gordon c Stansfield b Bashir 3

N Austin lbw Hill 0

R Hopkinson not out 15

Extras 7 Total (3wkts) 72

Bowling: J Stansfield 8-3-16-0, R Hill 13-3-26-2, S Bashir 6.1-1-20-1, C Woodhead 1-0-4-0.

Brighouse 0, Keighley 6.