CRAVEN Cricket League officials can rest content. Haworth will have a full complement when they tackle Thornton at West Lane onb Saturday in a game which will decide the outcome of the Division One title race. writes Tony Simpson.

Thornton have a one-point advantage over Embsay, the defending champions, and if they can topple the Wynn Cup holders, the title will go to the men from Booth Bridge Lane for the first time since 1992.

Last weekend, however, the Wynn Cup winners fielded only eight men in their Division One game against Carleton and went down by ten wickets. "We expected to have ten men on duty last weekend, but two of our players were delayed working in the Midlands and could not get back in time," says secretary Gary Bancroft: "Although we managed a full complement for the second team, a couple of the lads were under 13 players, so the picture wasn't what it seemed. I'm confident we'll have a full side out when we face Thornton."

As Haworth so graphically demonstrated when they beat Oakworth on their own ground to win the Wynn Cup, at strength they are capable of beating anyone in the league. Thornton, however, are men with a mission and will not let the prize slip from their grasp without a major effort.

Embsay will simply be hoping to turn over Carleton at Skipton Road and keep their fingers crossed that there is a turn-up of some sort at Haworth. Eleven players would do for a start.

Last weekend Thornton stayed in control with a 99-run win at home to Bradley. David Harrison (89) set the standard as the home side reached 198-7 and the onus then fell to the bowlers. Stephen Lodge (4-23) claimed both openers to put Thornton on top and all the bowlers claimed wickets at an acceptable rate to bowl Bradley out for 99.

At Fence, Pendle Forest were in danger of being routed by Embsay when they crashed to 32-7, Stephen Speak claiming a hat trick in his 7-25 return and it was a tribute to Jason Bracewell (36no) and Gareth Storey (22) that they were able to help move the final tally to a more respectable 108.

That proved no sort of a test for the visitors, however, who stayed one point behind Thornton with a seven-wicket win.

Oakworth's high ambitions, which embraced a league and cup treble not so long ago, now hinge on tomorrow's Keighley Cup final against Steeton, for despite their win at home to Skipton CI, they cannot improve on third place in the league.