It's three down and one to go for league leaders Oakworth.

In the last three weeks they have seen off Embsay, Pendle Forest and now Thornton, now only Long Lee stand between the Cure Hill side and the championship.

They restricted Thornton to 152 which was a good recovery from 74-5. Ian Clarkson top scored with 59 as Michael Scarborough took 4-44 and Graham Rankin 4-50.

In reply Oakworth cantered to an eight wicket win thanks to John Crossley 78no and Robert Hopkinson 55no.

Embsay moved into second spot with victory at Barrowford who only managed to muster 98. Stephen Speak finished with 6-36 and Zuffer Iqbal 3-35. In reply Duncan Bullough 33no and Iqbal 26 led the way.

Long Lee were pleased with their efforts with the bat, making 236-4 with Paul Stowell leading on 78, assisted by Jan Haider 71no and Paul Wilkinson 53. At 149-6 Cartleton looked to be struggling. Adam Strickland joined Ian Bell and the pair set about the attack with relish. They put on an unbeaten 90 for the seventh wicket to snatch the points with just five balls to spare. Bell scored 57no and Strickland 42no. Opener Martyn Windle chipped in with 53.

Last week Skipton CI lost by 10 runs, this week they went even closer at Pendle Forest, going down by just seven runs. The Fence side struggled to 83-8, before Gareth Storey 20 and David Flounders 28no pushed the total to 141. Opener James Thackray scored 47 at the top of the innings as Shaun Williamson took 5-60 in 21 overs. The visitors looked dead and buried at 92-9 but John Drake 31 and R Sutter 11no had other ideas and lifted the score to 134 before Drake was out. Tim Stanley finished with 4-27.

Sutton suffering some 'in house turbulence' which has left them short of some first teamers, managed to turn out two sides and fulfil their fixture. This week they were at Haworth and were dismissed for 93. Justin Holdsworth making 37 as the Rowell brothers did the damage with the ball, Jamie taking 5-38 and Damian 4-48. The former followed this with 47no to take the Bronte side to victory by five wickets.

Bottom side Cowling have suddenly found winning ways, their third victory in four games coming at Bradley. John Brearley 89no and Michael Milbourn 51 had seen the homesters reach 205-6. Skipper Steve Mitchell followed his 90 last week with a stunning 113no - after being dropped before scoring. With only five games left it will be a miracle if Cowling avoid the drop. They are seven points behind Skipton CI and Sutton - both of whom they have to play.

Haworth West End's lead at the top of the Second Division is now eight points, and they look odds-on for promotion. They shot out Glusburn for 97 with Jason Bilborough, continuing his excellent form, taking 8-48. Andy Parker with 42 setting up a comfortable eight wicket win.

Ingrow St John's move into second spot after beating Airedale by 20 runs. The Saints batted first and made 182 with Colin Bottomley (74) as Giles Wilmore took 4-49 and Matthew Cox and Ben Guest took three wickets each. The homesters were dismissed for 162 despite the efforts of Trevor Cox who made 56 as Z Iqbal took 7-65 and Anthony Haigh 3-37.

Denholme's early season form appears to have deserted them as they have won only one game of the last four. They travelled to Foulridge and found Mohammed Nawaz in excellent form. He took the last five wickets in eight balls to finish with 6-19 as the visitors plunged to 81 all out, Tom Stephenson providing good backup to Nawaz to finish with 4-55. The Noyna side galloped to victory by eight wickets thanks mainly to Chris Brooker-Carey's 46no.

Gargrave rattled up 192-6 against Jimmy Nelson's, George Rhodes making 66 and Richard Drake 61. The Red Rose side were then brushed aside for a paltry 29, Ray Jones taking 5-11 and M Lazenby 5-12.

Eight-man Cononley managed to post a commanding 185-5, thanks to Euan Scarr 44 and Matthew Town 48no. Opponents Barnoldswick made a brave but unsuccessful attempt to reach their target which failed by 34 runs, C Hanson taking 6-66.

Chatburn's Neil Cartilage with 102no and 3-6 was the star of their crushing 165 run victory over Keighley TC. John Lockley also took 5-18 for the winners.

Third Division leaders, Embsay, took another step towards the title with a six-wicket win at Barrowford. The Bull Holme side batted first and made 92 with opener David Wilkinson carrying his bat with 32no. Leg spinner Sam Keane took 6-20 and Ian Robson 4-29. Jonathan Coward, unable to bowl because of a shoulder problem, turned batter and made 44 as victory was achieved.

Glusburn scored a very respectable 212-8 with veteran George Garland top scoring with 52 as Mick Riddiough took 4-6 for Bradley. Riddiough followed up with 57no to see his side to victory, with Colin Ridehalgh taking 5-49.

Thornton are third despite their defeat at Oakworth. The Cure Hill side batted first and made 152, Simon Howell top scoring with 49. The visitors were reduced to 28-6 inside 14 overs. However Nick Paxton, 69 and Mark Laycock 27 pulled things around but when both were dismissed close together the innings follded at 116, with Jason Lockley claiming 5-32.

Robert Ayrton 77, Martin Stables 65no and David Brown 54 helped Long Lee to a formidable 258 in their innings. Visitors Chatburn made a brave effort which reached 185 at their close, Simon Tomlinson making 60 and Paul Craig 35 as Paul Swindlehurst finished with 5-89.

Skipton CI's excellent form of late continued at home to Pendle Forest. They have now won four of their last five games. Batting first the locals made 214-8, Mel Mason top scoring with 46 closely followed by John Carlisle with 44. Evergreen Peter Thackray then made a fine 90 to no avail as the Fence side lost by 27 runs, Mason taking 4-13 and Ian Holden 4-72.

As mentioned earlier Sutton are going through turmoil, however they had no qualms of putting most of their junior side into the fray. Sadly for them they were no match for Haworth and were dismissed for the lowest score of the season, 8. This was in reply to the Bronte side's 178-8, Alex Austerbury scoring 59 as one of the youngsers, Stuart Parkin, finished with 5-70. In the Sutton innings B England finished with 7-6.

Fourth Division leaders Cowling slipped off the top after going down at home to third placed Haworth West End.

Pendle Forest III take over top spot after beating Cononley by eight wickets. Two juniors Martin Walsh 3-1 and Ryan Ellis 3-6 doing the damage for the winners.

Golden oldies Phil Walker 62no and David Unwin 50 made sure that Ingrow St John's secured the points at home to Airedale by 91 runs.

Rain and bad light curtailed play down at Rose Cottage where Carleton were the visitors. The latter had batted first and made 199 with Neville Allen scoring a fine 107no. The home side had made 103-4 in reply when play was halted. Stan Adams being 46no.