A tie, a ten-wicket performance - not forgetting a nine and an eight-wicket haul - plus some close finishes were the highlights of last week's CRAVEN LEAGUE action when the sun finally shone to make playing and watching cricket a pleasure.

Cullingworth will be glad to see the back of Division One leaders Embsay.

In their first game the Shires Lane side clobbered them by nine wickets. And in the Wynn Cup they blasted 347 off their attack.

On Saturday at Shire Lane, the visitors were dismissed for just 69. Stephen Speak and Richard Phillipson taking five and three wickets respectively. The leaders knocked off the runs for the loss of two wickets.

The tie came at Haworth where ten-man Long Lee batted first and registered a very creditable 194-8 in their overs, Richard Wilkinson leading the way with 59 assisted by Matt Taylor (51).

Rowell brothers Damian and Jamie took three wickets each. Damian was the lynchpin of the Bronte side's reply as he scored 90 not out of 194-6. Karl Brown chipped in with 38.

Bradley just failed by 26 runs to overtake second placed Oakworth's impressive 246-5. Ian Price made 74 and Mick Hall 44 as the home side's innings closed on 220-8

Third placed Barrowford saw off the challenge of Skipton CI by 32 runs over at The Bull Holme.

Thornton made the short journey over the border to Foulridge and managed to keep the bottom club from registering their first victory of the season.

Batting first the Booth Bridge Lane lads made 162-9 in their overs with skipper David Holt top scoring with 51 as K Saeed claimed 4-59. Foulridge's No 7 John Lickess with 45 not out helped push their reply up to 114 before they were all out. Richard Craddock enjoyed a good spell, taking 6-34 off 14 overs.

Lacklustre Cowling dropped into the next to bottom spot when they lost to previous occupiers of that slot Pendle Forest. The Fence batted first and recorded a fine 235-5 in their overs. Peter Mawdsley led the way with 76 assisted by Andy Townsend (50), Nick Swinbank (45) and A Ali (41). In the reply of 117 only Steve Mitchell with 41 offered much resistance as Chris Whitwell and Nick Daniel took three wickets apiece.

Second Division leaders Sutton had no joy on their travels to Chatburn. The Ribble Valley side notched up 206-7 in their innings, as Richard Shovelton scored 62, Ted Topham 47no and Basil Brookes 43. Nobody really got to grips in the batting for Sutton and they were dismissed for 119 in reply. I Ali took 7-69 in 14 overs.

The battle between the second and third placed teams, Ingrow St John's and Haworth WE went the way of the latter by six wickets at Morton.

Denholme's Rob Taylor was the only century scorer in the top two divisions. He made 101 to go with David Wear's 67 as the side blasted 232-4 at Cononley. The home side replied with 143 of which Charles Calvert made 41.

Glusburn were out of sorts when they entertained J Nelson's. They could only muster 102 in their innings as Tony Stafford with 9-38 ripped them apart. Steve Filkin did his best to keep things going, scoring 32 as the red rose side cantered to a five-wicket triumph.

It was a nail biter at Airedale where Ingrow were the visitors. The home side made a steady start before collapsing to 98 all out in the face of some good by David Hoyle (6-37) and Ian Roberts (4-37). Phil Loftus top scored with 42. The visitors struggled to reach their target as Alan Hayes took 4-31 and Malc Quinlan 3-32, but they took the points with the last pair at the crease.

Bottom two Gargrave and Carleton met at the former's ground. The home side batted first and made 158-7 with Des Mountain scoring 32 and Ray Jones 30. Jones followed this with 3-45 off 23 overs as the Ramper Park side replied with 133-7.

The return to winning ways of Third Division leaders Embsay was personal triumph for John Metcalfe. At Long Lee he took all ten wickets for 28 off 19.5 overs. All but one of his victims was bowled. The home side's skipper and opener Paul McCullough stood fast against the onslaught to carry his bat for an unbeaten 24. The Shires Lane side had batted first and scored 208-7. Simon Holt (65) and Brian Hodgson (33) put on 102 for the first wicket.

Cullingworth stay in second spot on run rate after beating visitors Glusburn by 30 runs. Dave Robinson took 5-10 for the winners.

Barrowford come next after they won their local derby with Pendle Forest by four wickets. John Cant (5-49), Paul Hakin (3-34) and Kevin Lyons (42) were the stars of the victory.

There was a high scoring and tense finish at Thornton where Haworth were the visitors. The Bronte side batted first and posted a formidable 235-6 in their overs. Glen Ogden and Adam Balderstone both scored 66 and Derek Bright made 52 not out. Undaunted the homesters set off in reply and fell an agonizing 12 runs short of their target. Nick Paxton made 74 not out, Paul Giles 41 and Jeff Tipler 38.

Skipton CI had stars in Zufar Iqbal (85no) and John Stuttard (7-21) as they trounced visitors Bradley by 107 runs.

Oakworth beat Cowling by 35 runs at Cure Hill. The highlight was a maiden half-century in senior cricket for 15-year-old Luke Scott.

It's as you were at the top of the Fourth Division as the top three all won in convincing style. Leaders Ingrow St John's were in devastating form at Pendle Forest III. They dismissed the home side for 121 with Mehrban taking 5-30 as J Selby made 38. Alan Hargreaves (52no) and Barry Wood (31no) saw the Saints home in style by nine wickets in the 23rd over.

Second placed Airedale blasted 260-3 at Denholme, Paul Feather scoring 106 not out, M Watkins 46 not out and M Gill 45. S Aslam took 5-46 as the home side replied with 157.

Simon Tomlinson (65) and Paul Craig (53) helped third placed Chatburn to 185 at Ingrow, Ian Herbert taking 5-50. The Keighley side only managed 115 in reply.

Cononley held off the challenge of Sutton to win by 28 runs. John Tatham (47), K Gott (5-43) and M Willetts (4-49) were their stars.

Will Campbell made 66 as Gargrave scored 114 at Rose Cottage, W Coppack taking 5-18. Keighley TC's reply was successful by three wickets with S Taylor making 41.

Long Lee II conceded 36 extras to help Foulridge to a modest 107 in their innings. Kelvin Doane took 8-25 on a slow bowler's wicket. The Keighley side were made to pay dearly for those "free" runs, closing on 87 as Steve Kegg took 4-2 to wrap up the innings.