Skipton cruised to another impressive victory in Division C of the Airedale & Wharfedale League on Saturday when they defeated bottom club Pool Mills by seven wickets.

With arch-rivals Colton also losing, Skipton now have breathing space at the top of the table again, although that could change tomorrow as Skipton travel to Colton for a clash which could decide the title race.

Last weekend the signs were not good for the visitors from the outset. Having won the toss, they had no choice but to bat first since they had only four players at the ground at the time the game was scheduled to start.

Rob Dilger then proceeded to remove the two openers in the first few overs and this set the tone for the day. The score had moved to 25-2 when Andrew Facey took and absolutely stunning catch at second slip.

This success gave Skipton the extra impetus they needed and they rattled through the Pool Mills batting line-up. Martyn Windle came on from the pavilion end and his first two balls were beautifully bowled and each claimed a wicket..

The visitors spluttered to 48-8 and there was even panic in the kitchen that the teas would not be ready in time.

However, an entertaining eighth-wicket stand of 51 ensured that there was enough time to finish making the sandwiches as the innings closed at 111.

Dilger again set the standard with the ball, finishing with 3-12 from 10.

Skipton went out to bat with 70 overs to reach their target, but there was never any danger of them needing them as the in-form duo of Kevin Owens and Stephen Carling made a brisk start.

The pair rattled along to 71, but just when it was looking as if another 10-wicket win would be recorded, Carling edged a catch to first slip.

Owens followed shortly after for 39, pulling a rank long hop into the hands of square leg, and Rob Walker also fell before the total was reached. However, Dilger smashed a few hefty blows and Skipton sailed home for the loss of just three wickets.

Skipton seconds, meanwhile, were extending their unbeaten run to nine matches with a nine-wicket win at Pool Mills.

Gary Owens was the match-winner with a bowling return of 7-19 off 14 overs, the home side collapsing from 75-0 to 96 all out in 38 overs.

John Coates with 57 and Mohammed Saghir 29 saw Skipton safely home.

Upper Wharfedale had to be content with a couple of points from a finely-balanced match at Bolton Villas, where they finished only five runs adrift of a win with two wickets to fall.

David Daggett did a sound job in containing the home side with a return of 5-50 from 25 overs, Villas reaching 156-6 when they batted first.

At 44-4 and the top of the order all back in the pavilion, the picture did not look too rosy for the Dalesmen, but they found a saviour in Chris Butt, who hit an unbeaten 59 and with Ian Austin (36) took the total to 123 before Austin perished.

The game then stayed in the balance to the end, but the Dalesmen were still five runs adrift of their victory target at the close and collected two points.

In Division A, Steeton gained a welcome win when they beat visitors Collingham by 46 runs. Neil Spragg (90) was the mainstay of the Steeton innings as they totalled 234-9 when they batted first. They then bowled the visitors out for 188, Andrew Dalby claiming 7-47..

Silsden also had the better of a drawn Division B game at home to Bardsey. They reached 172-7 when they batted first, Matthew Shuttleworth then turning in a good bowling display to take 5-64 and leave the visitors still 10 runs adrift at stumps.