IT was a good weekend for Skipton in the Aire-Wharfe League with victory in both Waddilove Cup and league encounters. A wet, slow wicket proved once again to be Skipton's trump card as they came through by five wickets against Knaresborough.

Mick Scott and Peter Francis kept the visitors' opening pair under a tight rein and, with runs difficult to find, errors crept in and the wickets fell at regular intervals.

Matt Taylor took three wickets for 21 runs and the innings closed at 96 for seven.

Skipton, knowing that occupying the crease for the 45 overs should be enough, set out with that intention but made too slow a start to put the pressure on the opening pair. Eventually they began to look for quick singles and both fell victim to spin.

Chris Gott and Sean Atkinson retrieved the momentum with some fine strikes to put Skipton back in the driving seat. Gott eventually fell for 31 but by then Knaresborough's resistance was virtually over.

Atkinson and Martin Redhead paired up again for a decisive stand, broken only when Skipton were four runs short and Atkinson was stumped.

Knaresborough: D McAley c Redhead b Francis 17, S Carey lbw Francis 7, J Dodman not out 29, P Thompson lbw Gott 23, J Corcoran c Greenwood b Taylor 2, C Simmonds st Redhead b Taylor 0, G Whiles run out 1, S Booth b Taylor 3, M Revill not out 7. Extras 7. Total (7 wkts) 96.

Bowling: M Scott 16-6-23-0., P Francis 12-4-20-2, C Gott 10-1-25-1.

Skipton: P Pickles lbw Booth 9, M Whitaker lbs Booth 12, C Gott c Simmonds b Corcoran 31, S Atkinson st b Booth 24, M Redhead not out 12, M Wilson lbw Brittain 5, A Facey not out 1. Extras 3. Total (5 wkts) 97.

Silsden cruised through against Beckwithshaw after they had restricted the home side to 147, despite a bright start which saw them reach 43 for none.

Steve Walmsley made an excellent 58 for Beckwithshaw before being caught behind off Steve Baluk and once he had gone, with the score on 119, Baluk caused all kinds of problems for the home side. Baluk went on to return figures of five for 31 off his 11 overs and Mark Akrigg's run out of K Barnes put the seal on some impressive fielding.

Silsden reached their target with 15 overs in the bag. An in-form David Jackson made 58 not out as wickets fell alongside him. He was joined at the crease by Andrew Pullen, who is in free flowing mode and crashed 45 not out off 33 balls to secure the win.

Beckwithshaw: S Warmsley c Sugden b Baluk 58, R Kellor c Akrigg b Short 17, M Schmidt c Sugden b Baluk 14, S Barker c Akrigg b Short 1, A Tate b Pullen 19, M Lonergan c Sugden b Baluk 4, A Gott c Jackson b Baluk 1, S Thomas c Collins b Baluk 16, K Barnes run out AKrigg 0, M Baker not out 7, R McIntire b Pullen 0. Extras 10. Total 147.

Bowling: A Pullen 10-2-30-2, A Emmott 7-1-25-0, D Short 12-2-36-2, M Akrigg 3-0-16-0, D Baluk 11-2-36-5.

Silsden: D Jackson not out 58, T Sugden c Walmsley b Baker 7, S Collins c Warmsley b McIntire 11, J Akrigg c Barker b Gott 4, A Knowles lbw Tate 10, A Pullen not out 45. Extras 13. Total (4 wkts) 148.

Bowling: R McIntire 8-0-28-1, M Baker 8-0-22-1, A Tate 7-0-29-1, A Gott 5-0-32-1, M Schmidt 2.4-0-24-0.

SKIPTON secured six league points in a match reduced by rain to 49 overs.

Tight bowling by Skipton put Otley on the back foot and the first wicket fell in only the second over as Mark Whitaker took a smart slip catch.

Mick Scott was particularly mean, his first 12 overs going for a mere four runs, and with Peter Francis, Skipton's Australian all-rounder, also proving difficult to get away, steady inroads were made into the Otley order.

The only resistance came from another Aussie, Jimmy Prendagast, whose shot selection might have been better on the golf course but was quite effective on the day.

He was top scorer on 30 as the home side struggled to 121.

In reply Skipton lost their first wicket, Mark Whittaker, with the score on 12 and skipper Chris Gott followed soon after in the face of some hostile bowling from Prendagast, although it was R Hodgson who claimed the wicket, a top edge to mid wicket.

But Phil Pickles had dug in and despatched any loose bowling before being caught at mid wicket for 37.

Sean Atkinson and Martin Redhead saw Skipton home with some steady batting as they increased the tempo with rain threatening, Atkinson hitting three sixes.

Otley: C Smith c Whittaker b Scott 8, J Davies c Whittaker b Francis 4, P Machell c Facey b Francis 10, M O'Grady c Pickles b Scott 10, M Smith c Facey b Scott 1, C Barlow c Pickles b Francis 5, D Taylor b Francis 0, J Prendagast c Redhead b Francis 30, R Hodgson b Scott 0, C Davey c Taylor b Scott 22, A Mitchell not out 8. Extras 13. Total 121.

Bowling: M Scott 24.3-11-31-5; P Francis 24-3-82-5.

Skipton: P Pickles c Machell b O'Grady 37, M Whittaker c Machell b Hodgson 8, C Gott c Davies b Hodgson 4, S Atkinson not out 38, M Redhead not out 31. Extras 6. Total (3 wkts) 124.

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