Second placed Oakworth kept the pressure on the leaders in ag ame which matched Saturday's bright sunshine.

They beat visitors Thornton with just nine balls to spare after the Booth Bridge Lane side rattled up 191-6.

The innings was built around a splendid knock of 105 by Kevin Pollard, with Paul Ellis also scoring 30 as John Crossley claimed 4-26 from eight overs. The reply was ambling along at 78-3 when Mark Price joined Robert Hopkinson and the pair put together a partnership of 115 to take their side to victory. Price made 59no and Hopkinson 81no.

Embsay entertained fellow Wynn Cup finalists Barrowford and extinguished their slim chances of taking the title in emphatic style. The Lancashire side batted first and could only muster 100-9. Neil Hargreaves anchored the innings with 43 as Richard Phillipson spun his way to 6-28 off 13 overs.

The Shires Lane side cantered to a fine seven wicket win with Duncan Bullough making 32 and Mick Cox 29 not out.

Foulridge's relegation was all but confirmed as they slumped to a nine-wicket defeat at Cowling. The Noyna side was brushed aside for a paltry 50 as George Batty took 5-15 and Martyn Dalby 5-35. The homeside cruised untroubled to victory to aid their fight against relegation.

Another side to boost their fight to stay in the top division was Long Lee who entertained Skipton CI in a very high scoring game - one that saw 499 runs scored with the highest individual score being 52.

The Keighley side smashed a mammoth 271-9 in their overs. Richard Ayrton scoring 52,Mick Iles 49 and Paul Stowell 47. Zufar Iqbal being the best bowler with 4-70. The visitors made a fair fist of their reply, which closed on 228-9. Ian Burke made 51 and Luke Walker 50 as Stowell bowled 20 overs and finished with 5-136.

Haworth had a comfortable home victory over 10-man Bradley. The Bronte side posted 185 batting first, Damian Rowell leading the way with 42 assisted by Anthony Godden 37 and Adrian Ratcliffe 33 as Tim Rudden claimed 5-43.

The visitor's reply never got out of first gear and they crashed to 70 all out. The Rowell brothers, Jamie and Damian taking 5-19 and 3-20 respectively.

Leaders of the Second Division, Haworth West End got back to winning ways after last week's defeat at Chatburn. This week they entertained Ingrow and blasted 214-8, Jason Bilbrough topscoring with 46 and Tim Welch making 41. The visitor's reply reached 173 at the close with A Parker making 69 as Bilbrough took 5-35.

Second placed Sutton lost a very high scoring game at home to J Nelson's by 17 runs. The Lancastrians batted first and plundered 302-5 with M Brown making 138no, G Platt 54 and T Stafford 41. The South Craveners reply was a creditable 285-6. Justin Holdsworth leading the way with 72no, assisted by Paul Hardaker 68, Danny Brown 53 and Alan Johnson 46. Sutton stay in second place.

Third placed Denholme encountered few problems as they destroyed visitors Carleton for a measly 48. Only M Shafiq and extras managed double figures - 16 and 11 respectively. I Spencer claimed 5-19 and S Haigh 3-6.

The homesters galloped to a ten-wicket win.

Cononley entertained Glusburn and were dismissed for 124. No 11 batter P Corvin bringing some respectability to the score by making 49no. Simon Hegarty took 5-56 and Steve Filkin 5-61. The visitors took the spoils by five wickets with David Barton scoring 62.

Airedale were too strong for Gargrave, winning by 86 runs and Ingrow St John's get three points because Chatburn were unable to raise a team.

Third Division leaders Embsay travelled to joint second placed Barrowford and came away with the points, winning by six wickets. The Bull Holme side opened with 68 for the first wicket with Nigel Jones making 44 before a breakthrough occurred. From there they slumped quite dramatically to 97-7. It was only some determined batting by Nick Burton that held the leaders at bay. He made 34no before running out of partners with the total on 127. Ian Robson finished with 6-38 and Wally Robertson 4-43. Nasser Hussain led the successful reply with 61no.

Thornton spoiled Embsay's party by beating visitors Oakworth. They are the only team that can deny the Shires Lane side the title, which in turn would need the leaders to lose their four remaining games.

The Cure Hill side batted first and posted 183 with Drew Duffy making 52 as evergreen Malc Holt took 6-57 of 22.1 overs. Veteran John Roughton anchored the reply with 74 and Jeff Tipler carried on the good work with 37 as victory was achieved by four wickets with seven balls to spare.

Pendle Forest just about ensured their place in the division next season when they dismissed Cullingworth for 97 and cantered to victory by seven wickets.

Bradley gave themselves a fighting chance of staying up when they saw off the challenge of visitors Haworth by 37 runs. The homeside were indebted to Jonathan Hopkinson who made 66no as Ben England claimed 3-23. Colin Williamson top scored for the Bronte side with 35 as his side replied with 124. Alistair Harrison taking 3-13.

Long Lee drop into a relegation spot after losing at Skipton CI.

Bottom side Glusburn so very nearly recorded their second victory of the campaign. As it was they went down by just one run at home to neighbours Cowling. The visitors batted first and made 182-6 with veteran Vernon Rooke making 61. He followed this with 5-44 as the homesters fell agonizingly close.

Fourth Division leaders, Ingrow St John's put themselves one victory away from promotion when they triumphed over joint second placed Chatburn by just six runs in yet another high scoring game. The Saints rattled up 246-9 with Imran making 65. Probably most crucial was a ninth wicket partnership of 62 by John Jickells 35 and David Cotton 31no. The Ribble Valley side replied with 240-8, with David Lakin scoring 47 and Stuart Mercer and Paul Craig making 46 each.

Airedale are second, three points ahead of Chatburn, after beating Gargrave by seven wickets.

Ingrow made 126-9 at home to Keighley TC and then dismissed them for 80 with Ian Herbert finishing with 6-36.

Foulridge beat Cononley by seven wickets in a game which was proceeded by a minutes silence in memory of David Maxwell.

Denholme were triumphant over Long Lee III by eight wickets.

Sutton travelled to Pendle Forest III and beat them by nine wickets. Chris Smith 48no and Tony Walton 5-36 being their stars.