Cricket: Craven League

First Division leaders Upper Wharfedale were again in good form on their travels to Cowling. The home side batting first had young David Sutton to thank for getting to 159. He made a bright 30 to go with Martin Rishton's 40 and Steve Dalby's 31. K Barton with 4-36 was the most successful bowler. The Dalesmen countered with 161-2. An opening partnership of 99 by John Pearson 39 and Jason Waddington set them on their way. The latter was out for a fine 73 with the score on 132. The victory formality was concluded in the 33rd over.

Thornton and Embsay are four points behind the leaders. The former had the task of tackling Oakworth at Booth Bridge Lane and what a scrap it turned out to be. The Cure Hill side batted first and made 199-5 in their overs with Simon Howell making 47 and Michael Scarborough 43. The West Craveners reply was always there or there abouts. Tim Gates 47, Kevin Pollard 38 and Brian Laycock 37 tried their best and skipper Mark Paxton clattered 20 in the gloom and drizzle. Sadly though their efforts fell just seven runs short of their target.

Embsay entertained Pendle Forest and blasted 216-4 in their 45 overs. Ed Tiffany scoring 65, Jim Tiffany 59no and Rob Bateman 45no. Only Jason Bracewell with 57 offered much resistance as the Fence side could only manage 136 in reply, John Metcalfe taking 3-24.

Joining Oakworth a point behind Thornton and Embsay are Barrowford who suffered a reversal down at Carleton. The Red Rose side made a creditable 175-8, Neil Hargreaves scoring 54 and Nigel Hargreaves 39 as Steve Carling took 5-49. The latter followed this with 35 to go with Adam Greenwood's 38 as the villagers got home by four wickets.

T Brearley scored a superb 100 and Neil Andrews 62 as Bradley notched up 204-6 over at Foulridge. The Noyna side were then dismissed for 139, with W Nasir scoring 30 as Paul Wilkinson took 5-38 and Tim Rudden 5-29. That defeat leaves the home side anchored firmly to the bottom without a league victory so far.

The lowest scoring game in the division came down at Sutton. Surprisingly it was the home side who were rumbled for 78. Visitors Haworth cruised to a fine seven wicket win. Damian Rowell being their star with 6-27 and 26.

The top of the Second Division is starting to take shape with Skipton CI leading the pack. They were in scintillating form down at Glusburn on what must have been a batter's paradise. The homesters had first use and crashed a fine 241-8 in their overs. Darren Ideson hit a fine 95 and Steve Filkin 47. Undaunted Institute set off in pursuit ably led by Ian Burke whose 104no turned out to be a match winning innings. Nick Williamson chipped in with 38 as victory was achieved by seven wickets, leaving the Glusburn team gutted.

A point behind come Chatburn who had few problems dealing with bottom club Keighley Tech. Tight bowling restricted the white rose side to 58. This after they stood at 55-4, S Draycott taking 5-3 and Rod Booth 3-16. The Ribblesdale side lost three wickets reaching their target.

A further two points behind come Gargrave who plundered 255-5 over at Victory Park. M Clayton 67 and Tim Buckel 86 put on 126 for the first wicket in 21 overs, Neville Smith clattering 28no at the end of the innings.

Barnoldswick III were never in the hunt as they were shot out for 47 in only 24 overs, Ernie Moorhouse taking 4-2 in two overs to bring matters to a close. Another point behind come Long Lee who undoubtedly had the performer of the day in Chris Taylor. Firstly he made 68no to rescue his side from a wobbly 112-6. He put on an undefeated 78 for the last wicket with skipper Richard Granger. Not satisfied with this Taylor still had the energy to take 9-36 in 12 overs as opponents Cononley were brushed aside for 72. This leaves the South Craven side next to bottom with just a solitary victory to their name.

Ingrow St Johns' Rob Hopkinson ran Chris Taylor close for Player of the Day. Up at Morton he made 73 of his side's modest 98 all out, against Airedale, Mick Quinlan taking 5-13 and Giles Wilmore 3-49. The visitors were cruising at 61-0. Then Hopkinson 6-29 and John Green 4-22 put the skids under them and they were all out for 77.

J Nelson's batted first at a windswept Haworth West End and made 119-9 in their innings. Duncan Ward top scored with 29. The 'silthlike figure' of Andy Benfield cutting through the wind for 22 overs to finish with a very creditable 5-44. The Bronte side were reduced to 34-3 before Duncan Tetley with a fine knock of 49 took them to within sight of the finishing post. John Robinson then blasted a quickfire 23no to claim the points for his team.

Thornton continue to head the Third Division despite suffering their first reversal of the season up at Cure Hill. The West Craveners were dismissed for 110. Richard Thompson with 41 offering the most resistance, as Robert Jeffrey and Brian Pennington claimed three wickets each. In reply Oakworth were cruising at 63-1 then lost three wickets in four balls to put the jitters into them. However they pulled themselves together and got home by four wickets in the 30th over.

The win moves Oakworth into joint second along with Haworth and Bradley. The former were in sparkling form at home to Sutton and posted a superb 230-5 in their overs, Colin Williamson top scoring on 70 and Derek Bright making 65. The South Craveners made a valiant effort to match the Bronte side but closed 42 runs short, G Hardaker making 72, Richard Kidd 40 as the head of the Rowell Clan, Frank took 3-12.

Bradley were also in fine form with the bat. They made 194-3 at home to Glusburn, Ian Price scoring 52, Nigel Bibby 35no and Andrew Curtis 35. The visitors were shot out for a modest 81 in their reply, Mick Riddiough taking 3-9 and Mark Emmott 3-31.

Embsay finally secured their first victory over at Pendle Forest. Batting first they made 212-5 with Paul Barwick blasting 13 sixes as he scored a superb 119. John Lovell chipped in with 42no. Undeterred the Fence side chased their target with gusto. Opener Andrew Mawdsley made 70 to set things up for an exciting finish. They had scored 200-8 when their overs ran out, Barwick somehow having the energy to bowl 17 overs and take 6-73.

U Wharfedale came unstuck at home to Chatburn in what was the Musson and Daggett show. The visitors made 155-7 with Dave Musson scoring 49no and Dave Daggett taking 3-39. In the Wood Laners reply of 121-9 Daggett scored 33 and Musson took 3-23.

Clown Prince Stuart Hargreaves clattered 81 of Barrowford's 189-9 at home to Haworth West End, G Royston taking 4-21. In reply the Bronte side had reached 169-9 when the overs ran out, B Haigh scoring 42 as John Cant took 6-58.

Long Lee are three points clear at the top of the Fourth Division after winning over at Cononley. The very youthful homesters - with the exception of the venerable Mick Palin - made a creditable 134-9 in their overs. T Starkey scored 27 as Paul Swindlehurst took 4-31. The Keighley side were made to work hard for the points, the winning margin being three wickets as Steve Tempest made 55 and Ewan Scarr took 3-41.

Cowling are second, three points behind. They saw off Keighley Tech down at Rose Cottage, winning by seven wickets. Veteran Stan Adams made 72 of his sides 116 as another evergreen, Bob Richardson, took 8-28. G Frost 49no and Don Moore 32 were the backbone of the winners total of 118-3.

Next come Carleton and Gargrave. The former came unstuck over at Clough Head. J Nelson's made 108 with H Buksh making 35 as Anthony Haigh took 7-48. The villagers were then shot out for 49 with Andy Makin taking 6-21 which included the hat trick and M Iqbal 3-4.

Gargrave faired better at home to Pendle Forest III. They dismissed the visitors for 106 with Rod Moon taking 5-44. John Spensley 44 and George Rhodes 33no guiding the homesters to victory by eight wickets with 13 overs to spare.

Skipton CI had the two stars of their game at Sandylands against Foulridge. John Stuttard 7-22 and P Mason 48no setting up a fine eight wicket win.

Finally down at Airedale visitors Ingrow St Johns must have felt confident of taking the points when they made 197-3 in their overs. Two old campaigners Graham Binns with 60no and Barry Wood 57 being the top scorers. However in reply the homesters cantered to a fine five wicket win thanks to Tim Crossley with 72 and Alec Ratcliffe who made 52.

The outstanding tie of the first round Wynn Cup saw Sutton down at Airedale.

The home side batted first and made a modest 91, Mark Allcock with 48no being the only batter to get into double figures. Jimmy McCormack finished with 5-22 off 15 overs.

The visitors knocked off the runs for the loss of three wickets. Opener Paul Williams lead the way with 39no.

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