Sweltering heat took its toll on players last weekend -- with drinks breaks the most welcome part of the afternoon.

Oakworth crashed at home to next to bottom Haworth WE, losing by 43 runs. The Bronte side batted first and the highlight of their innings was a superb 98 minute, 93 ball, century by Graham Ellis. His innings included 6 sixes and 11 fours. Andy Parker 39 and Andy Benfield 20 helped him.

Benfield followed up with a superb bowling effort of 12 overs, in which he claimed 7-35. Skipper John Crossley made 46 as the Cure Hill side were dismissed for 182.

Leaders Embsay, were in the wars when they entertained Denholme, who were making their first visit to Shires Lane. The home side rattled up 217-6 with Simon Bailey top scoring on 72, an innings which included 4 sixes and 8 fours. Both David Robinson, 36, and Paul Barwick 26 pulled muscles while batting. The best bowler was youngster D Taylor who finished with 4-77.

The visitors, whilst never really in the hunt, were threatening to take the game to an underpar attack, with a fourth wicket stand. However a change of bowling saw Duncan Ward get both batters and the innings closed on 99. Rob Taylor made 30 as Scott Robinson claimed 5-46 and John Metcalfe 3-34.

Barrowford close to within a point of Oakworth after a stunning ten-wicket win at Long Lee. The Keighley side made 159-9 with Paul Swindlehurst scoring 46 and Mick Iles 42 as Glen Hargreaves finished with 4-38 and his brother, John, 4-41. Ajmal Choudry 90no and Neil Hargreaves 50no saw the Red Rose side to the spoils.

Thornton consolidated fourth spot despite putting in an under par performance against Skipton CI at Booth Bridge Lane. Five Thornton batters got into the twenties and then got out as they reached 158-8. D Gamble with 3-25 was the most successful bowler.

The Sandylands side made a steady start, losing four wickets for 40, before Simon Bates started thrashing the ball about and got them to 138-7 with bags of overs to spare. Brian Laycock bowled him for 67 and it was basically all over. The last two wickets added seven runs to leave them just 13 short of their target.

Laycock finished with 3-14 to go with Richard Craddock's 5-50.

Cowling won a ding-dong repeat of the Wynn Cup semi final at home to Bradley. The visitors plundered 218-7 with Mick Hall making 73 and Neil Andrews 53 as Steve Richardson took 3-30. The latter then made 33no, along with Steve Mitchell, 81no, to see the homesters to victory by three wickets.

Haworth had the returning Alex Austerberry to thank for their victory over visitors Cullingworth. The Bronte side cracked 203, after being 16-4 and 30-5. Austerberry scoring 67 to go with Richard Goddens 43. Andy Hodgson claimed 4-34. The visitors then crashed to 96 with the main contribution coming from 28 extras. Gary Binns took 5-33 of 7 overs.

Cononley slipped up at Glusburn In Division Two and lost their place at the top of the table. Mick Baxter scored a magnificent 123 as he helped the home side to 235. Phil Taylor chipped in with 37 and David Barton 21. Andrew Town took 4-54 as Steve Filkin and Ian Thompson took three wickets each.

The reply was woeful with six wickets crashing for 37 before a mini-revival got the innings to 107. Mark Pickles took 4-39 and Kevin Hird 3-16.

Sutton go back to the top after comprehensive seven wicket win over Ingrow St John's at Royd's Hill. The Saints made 148 with Colin Bottomley top scoring on 29 as Justin Holdsworth claimed 5-50. The homesters built on an opening stand of 115 by Adie Fountain, 40, and Paul Williams to win by seven wickets with Williams on 80no.

Foulridge were in fine form at home to Chatburn. The Noyna side rattled up 236-6 with Chris Brooker-Carey scoring 87, Chris Preston 33 and Tom Stephenson 31. Stephenson then claimed 7-40 as the Ribblesdale side crashed to 115 all out.

Airedale slip out of the top three after they went down tamely at Ingrow. Paul Feather made 34 as the visitors posted a modest 131, with Adrian Parker taking 4-36. W Exley 57no and M Hanif 47 helped the homeside to victory by six wickets.

Gargrave struggled to post a decent score at home to Pendle Forest, reaching 120-7. The Fence side sauntered home by nine wickets, led by Andrew Townsend with 80no.

Carleton's mini-revival came to a halt with a defeat at Jimmy Nelson's.

The battle of the Roses - and the top two - in Division Three, Oakworth and Barrowford at Bull Holme went the way of the Lancashire side. Batting first they made 157. The Cure Hill side slumped to 114 against the pace of John Stanworth 6-42 and John Cant 4-23.

Embsay's trip to Airedale saw them gain revenge for defeat earlier in the season. Batting first the Shires Laners made a modest 139 with John Stephenson scoring 49 and Mark Allcock taking 4-23. Stephenson 5-50 and Marc Robson 4-23 then had the Keighley side back in the pavilion for 89 with Allcock top scoring with 24.

There was a nail-biter at Cullingworth, as visitors Long Lee scraped home by just one wicket in a low scoring game.

Thornton snatched victory in the 44th over at Ingrow St John's. The Saints made 175-9 with M Hussain scoring 87 as Richard Cockell claimed 5-57. The visitors needed eight an over off the last six overs and got there by three wickets. John Wilman set up the chase, which Cockell 38no saw to fruition. M Merman finished with 5-40 for the losers.

Cowling skipper Mark Batty cracked 118 of his side's 205 at Sandylands, as John Stuttered took 4-56 and Mel Seward 4-72. Skipton CI replied with a creditable 163 of which Seward made 38 and Mick Prince 33.

Bottom side Pendle Forest recorded only their third win of the campaign when they saw off visitors Haworth by five wickets. The Bronte side made 115, which the Fence side knocked off thanks mainly to Peter Archer 41 and Graham Dagg 29no. The latter also claimed 4-11.

Bradley's lead at the top of the Division Four stretched to seven points after they saw off Sutton, and Glusburn went down to defeat at Keighley TC.

Bradley rattled up 200, with Andrew Curtis making 82 as Alan Parker took 4-45. The visitors made a valiant effort, which closed on 159 with David Clarke scoring 55 and Graham Hardier 54 as Ashley Wellesley took 6-52 off 15 overs.

Meanwhile Glusburn were making 158 as Neil Coppack took 5-35 and A Rashid 4-38. The latter then hit a stylish 81no to go with Wayne Coppack's 43 as victory was achieved by five wickets.

Denholme closed to within a point of Glusburn after a cracking home victory over Pendle Forest III. The home side made 243-7 with Martin Armitage carrying his bat for 118no. The Fence team replied with 95 of which old hand David Hall made 34 as 13-year-old Ryan Clark took 5-6 of 5.1 overs.

Gargrave dragged themselves out of the bottom two as they beat Chatburn by 65 runs. The visitors made 150 with Rod Moon leading the way with 70 as John Reynolds took 5-19. Ted Topham made 41 of the Red Rose side's 85. S Moon took 5-36 and Robert Storr 4-48.

Cononley blasted their way to 367-6 at home to Foulridge, which is the eighth equal highest record score. Nick Coward made 83, Wayne Lee 69no and Willie Naylor 72, extras chipped in with 65. The Noyna side made 127 with extras contributing 37 as Naylor rounded off a good day for him by taking 6-26.

Finally Long Lee III were unable to raise a side against Ingrow.