ADEL fought back as the title battle hots up in the Airedale and Wharfedale League. Adel pulled level at the top with Follifoot after a convincing win at Green Lane while Follifoot were restricted to four points from a drawn game with North Leeds.

Neil Walker and Chris Newton each hit a half-century as Follifoot posted a score of 188for four in a match reduced to 20 overs a side by the rain.

Barry Singleton led the reply from North Leeds with a fine knock of 52 but his side finished on 146-7 to earn two points.

There were half-centuries for Adel batsmen Paddy Coughlin and John Francas as their side romped to a six wickets win over Green Lane. Adel had dismissed their hosts for 146 with Shires claiming three for five.

Steeton had to settle for a one point draw, their game with Bilton being abandoned.

Burley remain third from the bottom after losing out to fellow strugglers Collingham despite a superb innings of 72 from David Brook. On a rain affected pitch Burley struggled in the rain as Steve Booth took six for 45. When David Brook departed wickets fell and runs dried up.

Collingham batted cautiously but despite a loss of three wickets for four runs they managed to safely win through without further damage, Matt Cooke steering them to victory with a knock of 67.

Rawdon produced the surprise result of the day defeating neighbours Guiseley thanks to some splendid batting from Matthew Doyle, Denis Rock and Peter Smith.

Doyle (56 no) and Rock (53) shared a seventh wicket stand of 110 and then Smith came in at number nine to hammer three successive boundaries off Andrew Paley to seal a three wickets win in the penultimate over.

Guiseley had scored what looked a winning total of 240 for five with Mark Ross making 55 and Ian Chaplin (42). Rawdon however took the bull by the horns and battled their way to victory.

Menston slipped to the foot of the table after their drawn game with Beckwithshaw who made 213 for five with Rob Wilkins top scoring with 63. Menston replied with 191 for nine their last pair, W Hannam and Martin Knowles, hanging on for 15 balls to seal two points. Opener Gary Thompson had shown Menston the way with an innings of 77.

Horsforth's Linley takes career best 8-28

THE title bout between Hall Park and Otley ended in a damp squib when rain stopped play. Park batted first and made 188 for seven with Peter Weedon making the top score of 48 not out.

Otley were left with 36 overs in which to reach their target but finished well short at 117 for three despite Australian Joshua Rudolph making an unbeaten 55.

Otley thus slipped out of the promotion frame with Kirstall notching a six wickets win over Tong Park to leap into second place.

Calverley moved into fourth place with a crushing win over relegation threatened Skipton.

Pool's Phil Dibb hammered 78 and took four for 31 as his side claimed five points against Knaresborough.

Pool made 194 all out only Mark McEneaney offering real support with a knock of 32. Knaresborough replied with 112 for eight.

Ilkley hung on for a point after Silsden had made 213 for nine off 43 overs in another rain affected game.

Opener Jon Akrigg led the way with 53 and then shared a second wicket stand of 74 with C Thornton who made 50. Richard Simpson finished with 6-63 off a 17 over spell for Ilkley and then played a vital role in them achieving a point with an unbeaten 18 as they crumbled to 134 for seven.

HORSFORTH'S Tim Linley took a career best eight for 28 in 14 overs as he single-handedly destroyed Alwood-ley.

Mark Thomas started the wickets falling with a wicket in the fourth over. Linley then got his line right and started to rip through the Alwoodley batting. Five of his victims were bowled and the others caught by the wicketkeeper or in the slips. Backed by good catching and fielding Horsforth maintained pressure throughout. Alwoodley managed to muster only 54.

The Horsforth batsman set out trying to make the runs quickly to avoid the rain that was constantly threatening to ruin the party. They lost two wickets on their way to the target using up just 13.3 overs.

This sets up the top of the table nicely with only four points covering the top three.

Pool Mills visited high-flying Harden and were comprehensively beaten on what was one of the worst pitches encountered for quite some time.

Once Mills had lost the toss and predictably been asked to bat first it became obvious from the outset that things would be difficult on a rain-effected pitch.

Having being presented with a helpful pitch the bowlers still have to use it properly and this is exactly what Phil Leng and M Hogg did. The ball was flying about all over the place and as a consequence the Mills' batsmen fell like nine-pins. Not one batsman managed to reach double figures and they were dismissed for a paltry 43. Leng and Hogg bowled superbly taking five for 25 and five for 16 respectively.

The Harden reply was delayed by rain which gave Mills a glimmer of hope but the sun finally came out and the home side took no chance on further rain falling and hammered the Mills' attack to all parts of the ground, passing their target in just 4.1 overs for the loss of just one wicket. A day to forget for Mills.

Olicanians batsman Alastair Long continued his good season with a half-century against Addingham. Olicanians made 109 but Addingham were shot out for 47 in reply as N Benbow claimed a superb six for 23 off 11.2 overs.

Ben Rhydding made 201, Tony Todd hitting 57 and Wade Kilborn 43, but it was not enough against Woodhouse who went on to win by five wickets with S Dobson hammering an unbeaten 89 and S Golati 83.

Upper Wharfedale romped to an eight wickets win over Bolton Villas with P Drinkall making 41 not out.