John Inman - Oakworth

Haworth made the Craven League champions fight all the way for their title -- in a thrilling match at West Lane.

Thornton were leading the table by one point going into last weekend's games with second placed Embsay at home to Carleton.

Haworth batted first and set a target of 140 with Jamie Rowell top scoring on 30 as Mark Paxton took 4-32.

The Booth Bridge Lane side were reduced to 59-5 in the 20th over and were looking decidedly nervous. The vast experience of Brian Laycock steadied the ship and had taken the score to 112 when he was seventh out for a battling 38. Gareth Ogden snapped up his wicket with a superb catch off the bowling of David Bright.

Skipper Paxton, nursing a back injury, joined Mark Procter and they edged the total closer to victory. In the gathering gloom they secured victory with 10 balls to spare.

Embsay had been waiting for the results after encountering few problems as they cantered home by eight wickets. Carleton were dismissed for 88, David Whiteley contributing 40 as Stephen Speak finished the season in style with 7-29. Ed Tiffany with 36 and David Robinson 34no lead the Shires Lane side to the spoils.

They could then only sit and wait for the outcome of the main attraction.

Third placed Oakworth showed their Achilles heel again as they went down to bottom side Cowling in a low scoring match. The South Craven side batted first and restricted to 91. Skipper Steve Mitchell made 35 and Martyn Dalby 33 as Jeff Inman spun his way to 4-14. The Cure Hill side then fell victim to another spell of spin from George Batty who finished with 6-16. Dalby, who took 4-34, as the Keighley side crumpled to 52 all out, ably backed him up.

Long Lee finish in fourth spot despite going down by the narrow margin of one wicket at Sandylands. Batting first they made 119, with Keiran Coe taking 4-19. In reply Skipton CI were struggling at 86-9 before Shaun Williamson and John Drake both scored 17no to capture the spoils. Matthew Taylor finished with 4-28.

Bradley's disappointing season ended on a brighter note as they beat visitors Pendle Forest by 43 runs. The homeside made 127 with Neil Robinson scoring 35 as Nick Daniel took 5-30. The 10 man Fence side could only muster 84 in reply with James Heseltine taking 5-34. Next to bottom Barrowford beat Sutton.

Second Division champions Haworth West End were in party mood as they blasted 221-8 at home to Gargrave. D Walsh scored a fine 81 and Andy Benfield 73 as Ernie Moorhouse took 4-59. The visitors were hustled out for 88 with Jason Bilbrough finishing with 5-21. The three horse race for the second promotion spot went the way of Foulridge. They were down at Airedale and shot the homesters out for a paltry 39 with Tom Stephenson taking 5-14 and Mohammed Nawaz 3-10. The Noyna side lost four quick wickets before recovering their composure to reach their victory target.

Denholme finished third in their first season in the league. They were at Glusburn and had them back in the hut for 111. Richard Parkin scored 49. The newcomers galloped to an eight-wicket triumph with Gareth Marshall scoring 51 and Rob Taylor 40no.

Ingrow St John's finish fourth and will quickly want to forget their last game. Over at Barnoldswick they were dismissed for a miserable 45 with Peter Pickup finishing with 7-21. The homeside were made to fight all the way before winning by three wickets.

Cononley recorded their seventh victory of the season at home to Chatburn. The homesters made 113 in their innings with Richard Calvert top scoring with 35no as Richard Shovelton claimed 5-36. The Ribblesdale side was then dismissed for 100. John Lockley scored 37 and Steve Procter 31 as Matthew Town took 5-36 and Ian Thompson 4-27.

Third Division champions Embsay plundered 203-5 off a weak Pendle Forest attack at Fence. Mark Tucker hit a splendid 96 and Tom Hanson 49. In reply the homeside were dismissed for 128 with veteran Ian Robson closing the innings with 4-7, which included only the second hat trick of his long career.

Thornton finishes second, fifteen points adrift. They entertained Bradley and restricted them to 141-7. Martin Banks top scored with 37. Simon Bailey 55 and P Ellis 44no lead the homeside to a comfortable six wicket victory.

Oakworth powered their way to a massive 153 run win over visitors Skipton CI. The Cure Hill side plundered 255 with Jason Lockley scoring 100 and Barry Sayer 62. Nigel Carr made 20 as CI were dismissed for 102, Lockley taking 3-25.

Long Lee's John Tetley 3-14 and Paul Swindlehurst 3-16 held 10 man Barrowford back to the hut for 49. The Keighley side cantered to a nine wicket triumph with Simon Doane scoring 29no.

Haworth West End rounded off a fine centenary year for them when they secured the Fourth Division title. Playing at Foulridge they dismissed the Noyna side for 72 with T Walsh taking 5-15 and John Robinson 3-6. The Bronte side lost six wickets before claiming the title.

Cowling are also promoted after winning over at Ingrow St John's by 21 runs in a low scoring game.

Long time leaders, Pendle Forest finish third. They visited Keighley TC and won a high scoring game by six wickets. The Rose Cottage side made 178 with N Coppack scoring 78. In reply the Fence side cantered to victory thanks to a fine fifth wicket partnership from S Ellis 53no and G Prophet 51no.

A Javeed 86 and J Pollard 53 helped visitors Airedale to 206-4 over at Carleton. Then A Gill 5-2 and A Loftus 3-11 whipped the homeside out 32.

n As part of Embsay Cricket Club's centenary celebrations an exhibition of club memorabilia is being shown in the village hall on Saturday September 30, 12noon to 5pm and Sunday October 1, 11am-4pm.