Pool promoted as champions

They sealed the title on Saturday when Travis Rowe (3-30) and Chris Wilkinson (3-15) destroyed Oulton who were dismissed for 96.

Pool lost two wickets in gaining victory but David Singleton was at the crease to safely steer them to the title with an eight wickets win. He hit 54.

Pool have gathered a strong side and if they can keep the same side together they will do well on their return to D ivision One.

Rowe as their overseas player has proved his worth while young batsman Paul Henry has improved a great deal and with the likes of skipper R ichard Carlton, the vastle experienced John Wood and Richard Bolton as well as younger players such as David Murphy and David Singleton in their ranks the batting has improved.

They too have Tracey Mahoney a real enigma on the local cricket scene who can perform to high levels with both bat and ball.

Pool Seconds, leading their division, travelled to Oulton and it looked as if they would not bowl a ball.

However, the match started late but there were no further interruptions so Pool set about their business.

They were put in to bat and it was not easy on a wet wicket against some very accurate bowling. To add to this Martin Towers got an incredible lbw decision after making 27.

Paul Huby was then caught behind for 23 after a good stand of 60 with Steve Wood who went on to make 48.

Julian Davey then added 27 and with Pool taking every run scoring opportunity there was with some good running they reached 201. Chris Tweedie made a very impressive 24 and Steve Winterburn 25.

The Oulton openers batted well and with the wicket drying and improving by the minute Pool realised they had a game on their hands.

Oulton reached 137 before losing their first wicket and with 12 overs left they needed just 65 runs.

Opener R Hunt hit an excellent 111 before being caught by Huby.

Oulton should have had the match sewn up but the Pool skipper kept reminding his side that they were top of the table and they did not panic as they calmly removed Oulton batsman to leave their opponents at 192-7 to keep Pool at the top with just two games remaining.

Clive Singleton finished with four wickets and Cooper with 2-51 off 19 overs.

Otley Town, who have kept the pressure on Pool all season, were dismissed for 115 after being assured of promotion.

Garforth struggled to 67-4 in reply but eventually managed to gain a five wickets win.

For Town K Mulvaney hit 29.

Pool Mills fell for 153 in reply to Colton's 221-7. Darren Lyons hit 54 for Mills and Clive Baldwin 37 but it was never going to be enough.

Olicanians gained a seven wickets win over Cookridge thanks to a superb unbeaten 91 from Peter Blackwell. Cookridge had been restricted to 162-9 with Mick Fletcher taking 3-53 and Adrian Cowgill 4-67.

Pool Mills Seconds continued their recent good form with a resounding victory over visitors Khalsa.

Electing to bat first, Khalsa lost an early wicket with only two on the board.

After this setback, a positive approach from the other early order batsmen took their score along to 61.

From this point, however, the Mills attack of P Booth and Brian Davison took full control, and with the former bowling his best spell for the club so far, Khalsa folded for a meague total of 73.

Booth finished with 6-38 and Davison 3-23. Once again the Mills fielding was of the highest standard with three excellent stumpings by A Clews being the highlight.

Mills had a similar start to their innings as their visitors by losing an early wicket with only one run on the board.

A further wicket fell on 12, but from this point Jeff Bielby entered the fray to put the result beyond doubt in quick time.

With the ever steady Keith Brattley doing his usual efficient job Mills passed the required total witout further loss to register an eight-wicket victory. Beilby finished on 45 not out with Brattley on 16 not out.

In a game they needed to win Olicanians seconds came out of the promotion clash at Cookruidge with a hard-earned four points in a game hit by the weather.

Olicanians' problems started with team selectioin that saw just ten players avaialable to take the field.

Fine bowling by Rod Dewhurst and Toby Elkington soon reduced Cookridge to 9-3 but when Steve Gower (31) and S Smith (35) came together they added 50. With the bowlers tiring Cookridge added to this to finish with 158-7 which in dark and wet conditions was very creditable.

Dewhurst finished with 3-64 off 25 overs and Elkington 4-59.,

The total then became a mountain to face as Olicanians sank to 10-3 when rain and bad light saw the sides leave the field and six overs were deducted.

Hope was raised by a stubborn partnership between Rupert Jones and Robert Brear and the score went past 40 when Jones was bowled after making 11 in 22 overs.

Josh Simcox joined Brear and a further eight overs were used up in their battle for a draw before Simcox fell soon to be followed by Brear.

Fourteen overs remained when James Cottle on his debut joined Nigel Law and despite everything Cookridge could throw at them they remained defiant until with three overs to go Law was bowled.

In came Elkington to play out the over with all ten fielders placed round the bat.

However in true Elkington style the second and third balls were despatched for straight sixes and then he hit two fours which left him 21 not out off 11 balls with the close field fast moving out of firing range.

Cottle played out the last over leaving him 0 not out after 14 overs of defiance.

For their efforts Cookridge gained five points and Olicanians four still leaving them with a slim chance of promotion as Cookridge play Roundhay and Pool in their remaining games with Olicanians playing Pool Mills and second placed Roundhay.

Esholt knocked up a superb 235-8 with Mazwar Bhatti hitting a fine 115 while Jason Wilkinson backed him upwith a season's best 52.

Bhatti and Mohammed Wasim then took three wickets each as Woodhouse struggled to 159-7 in reply.

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