STEVE REAPE came close to pulling off an amazing escape act for Keighley.

The Lawkholme bowler is enjoying an impressive season, but even he was up against after they could only struggle to a total of 75 in 35 overs.

Scoring at just little more than two runs an over they found the drying wicket difficult to cope with as Dave Robinson top scored on 21 - with Richard Robinson second highest scorer on 11.

Esholt were almost halfway to victory when the Keighley bowling attack made the initial breakthrough with the total on 35. But from then it was a close race to the finishing line with Reape picking up six wickets for 21 runs in his 14 overs, and Ross Towler taking two wickets.

Steve Shuttleworth hung around, scoring 10 runs, but he held the Esholt innings together just enough to allow them to scrape home with eight wickets down.

Although the defeat left Keighley in sixth place, they are just two wins away from top spot and have to play many of the lower clubs in the second half of the season. This weekend they travel to Great Horton with the second team entertaining the Gt Horton 2nd team.

A big crowd is expected on Sunday for the White Rose Cup semi-final clash between the Bradford League and the Yorkshire League which will see many of the county's top young cricketers in action.

Keighley 75

Esholt 76-8

Keighley - P Wilkinson lbw Fuller 8, L Gordon lbw Lister 10, S Reape c&b Lister 0, M Beckett c Gilliver b Lister 0, R Robinson c Fuller b Lister 11, J Crouch c Birkby b Fuller 9, S Ratcliffe c Dewhirst b Fuller 0, D Robinson c Barton b Lister 21, R Towler c Barton b Lister 6, R Wood c Barton b Fuller 1, D Towler not out 0, Extras 9 Total 75.

Bowling: A Fuller 17.3-7-30-4, B Lister 17-4-38-6.

Esholt - M Gilliver c R Towler b Reape 21, D Drake st Beckett b R Towler 11, D Gaunt c R Towler b Reape 0, K Dewhirst lbw Reape 2, S Leatherdale c Ratcliffe b Reape 2, S Shuttleworth not out 10, A Fuller lbw Reape 0, A Bennett b R Towler 0, J Barton b Reape 18, B Lister not out 0, Extras 12 Total (8wkts) 76.

Bowling: S Reape 14-6-21-6, D Towler 4.1-0-22-0, R Towler 8-2-21-2, R Robinson 1-0-6-0.