In their wildest dreams Embsay could not have foreseen how easy it would be to retain their title on Saturday.

Up against Thornton -- one of their bogey sides, especially at home of the past few years -- they galloped to the points by 10 wickets.

Thornton were asked to bat first and on a lively wicket never got to grips with the bowling of John Metcalfe and Stephen Speak.

Only two players managed double figures as they were hustled out for 44 in 23.5 overs. Speak finished with 5-16 and Metcalfe 5-24.

The Shires Laners took their time and reached their target in the 13th over. Skipper Duncan Bullough making 24no and Simon Bailey 16no.

Oakworth enjoyed a fine eight wicket victory over visitors Haworth.

After losing three quick wickets Jamie Rowell with 89no pulled the Bronte side's innings around and they closed on 168-6 with Michael Scarborough claiming 5-37.

The latter then shared in a match winning third wicket partnership of 166 with Steve Hartley who made 39no. Scarborough scored 116no which included 17 fours and 4 sixes.

Fourth placed Cullingworth spring a surprise over at Barrowford although it was a very close run thing.

The red rose side were brushed aside for 77 with David Robinson taking 5-29. The visitors crept home by one wicket as Ajmal Choudry took 4-16. Steve Welch knocked the game's highest score, 27, for the winners.

Bottom side Skipton scored a welcome seven wicket victory at Bradley to keep themselves in with a slim chance of avoiding relegation. They hustled the home side out for 113 and then Nick Williamson 41 and Simon Bates 37no took them to the spoils.

There was another narrow finish at Cowling where Long Lee ran out winners by just three runs. The Keighley side posted 174 thanks mainly to Stephen Doane (61) and Paul Stowell (46). Ian Watson and Nick Staveley bagged three wickets each.

David Hindle with 55 tried in vain to snatch the points but Paul Swindlehurst with 6-88 was the match winner.

The battle for the second relegation spot between Haworth WE and Denholme contained a fantastic sporting gesture.

The Penistone Hill side batted first and had reached 50-4 when Adam Bailey drove a ball back close to bowler Gareth Marshall who took off and caught the ball one handed then fell to the ground.

Bailey started to walk disconsolately back to the pavilion only to be recalled by the bowler who told the umpire that he had dropped the ball as he landed on it.

The batsman who had only made 6 went on to top score with 46 as his side closed on 186.

Stuart Cummings being the most successful bowler with 5-60. The visitors started brightly but then fell apart to close on 122 with Rob Taylor making 40 as Jason Bilbrough all but ensured his side's safety with stunning figures of 8-53 from 18.1 overs.

Second Division leaders Sutton edged closer to promotion and the title after they crushed nine man visitors Jimmy Nelson's.

The hosts rattled up 265-4 in their overs with Malcolm Ellison and Paul Hardaker making 64 apiece, Paul Williams 55 and Alan Johnson 38no. The red rose visitors closed on 74-8.

The battle for the second promotion place is turning into a terrific race.

With both Foulridge and Cononley having identical records, the decisive factor is run rate. Currently the former have 19.09 runs per wicket to the latter's 18.99.

Foulridge travelled to Ingrow and dismissed the home side for 157 with Chris Brooker-Carey taking 7-54. The visiting side took the points for the loss of 4 wickets.

Meanwhile Cononley were over at Chatburn, edging home by ten runs in a high scoring game. The South Craveners walloped 216 going first with Ian Thompson scoring 80 and Ewan Scarr 58no.

The Ribble Valley side got to 206 where the last wicket fell, with Stuart Draycott making 63.

Airedale, who still have an outside chance of going up, saw off Carleton by seven wickets down at Bradford Road. Tom Mitchum made 57 as the Ramper Park side notched up 148, Alan Hayes spinning his way to 7-45.

The hosts had Phil Loftus 42 and Zaman 41 to thank for their victory.

Pendle Forest were too strong for visitors Ingrow St John's. The Morton side went first and made a creditable 164 as Graham Coward took 5-41 and Nick Daniels 4-50.

Jason Bracewell 80 and Richard Fothergill 33no were the match winners for the Fence side.

Gargrave pulled off their second win of the season and put paid to the slim chances of promotion of Glusburn.

The homeside made a modest 95 in their innings, which was 14 too many for the visitors. Will Campbell took 6-43 and T Malik 3-29.

Leaders of the Third Division, Oakworth, were in fine fettle away to Haworth. They posted 183 in their innings with Drew Duffey making 35 and Luke Scott 30 as ex-Cure Hill man Gary Searby took 5-55. He followed this with 47 but couldn't prevent a collapse to 94 all out as Andy Dawson, Chris White and Paul McCullough bagged three wickets each.

Barrowford, who are second on run rate from Embsay, just a point behind the leaders, were also in good form at Cullingworth. David Wilkinson 78 and Simon Jones 53no helped the Bull Holme side to 219-6. The home team could only make 111 in reply.

Titleholders Embsay showed they would not hand over the trophy without a fight. They travelled to Booth Bridge Lane and restricted the home side to 113-9 in their overs.

Seasoned campaigners Paul Giles and John Roughton made 38 and 31no respectively, as John Stephenson took 5-34. Brian Hodgson 65 and Andy Bell 36no set up a super 9 wicket win.

Cowling closed to within a point of Thornton after a comfortable five wicket victory at Long Lee.

David Cotton 5-26 and old warhorse David Unwin 65no were the stars of Ingrow St John's six wicket win over Pendle Forest at Street Lane.

Matthew Carr 6-29 and Mal Seward 45no ensured that Skipton CI got the points against Airedale at Sandylands.

Skipton CI have been deducted 6 points and Long Lee 3 points for playing ineligible players.

CI won both games so the points go to Pendle Forest and ironically Long Lee. They lost their game at Embsay.

Fourth Division leaders Bradley are assured of promotion following their ten wicket win over Long Lee III at Carleton.

Glusburn need one more point to join Bradley in the higher division after thumping visitors Gargrave by nine wickets. Mark Hebden 56no and Richard Butcher 52 being their match winners.

Ingrow were just too strong for Foulridge at Noyna. The Keighley side winning by three wickets.

Chatburn received a bit of a thumping at Cononley. The Ribblesdale side were shot out for 84 with Tom Holloway taking 4-41 and A Starkey 3-6.

Kendall Gott 38no and Tim Starkey 30no saw the home side to a stunning nine wicket win.

Keighley TC ran out 14 run winners at Denholme. Ian Copsey 44, Wayne Coppack 43 and G Stevens 4-44 being the stars for the winners, with T Fortes 64 and Paul Armitage 5-73 doing their best for the losers.

Finally there was a tremendous finish to a very low scoring game between Pendle Forest III and Sutton.

Played at Barnoldswick because of Barrowford Show, the visitors went first and were shot out for a paltry 43 with skipper Richard Kidd making 16 as D Hakin took 5-24.

Back stormed the South Craveners to have the home side reeling at 20-9 before No 11 veteran David Hall nearly pinched the game.

However he was dismissed for 21 to leave his side losers by just 2 runs. Richard Wilkinson finished with 6-13 and David Clark 4-24.