Silsden kept their chances of promotion alive with two points from a losing draw away to Alwoodley to stay second in the Aire-Wharfe Cricket League's Division B.

They scored 100-6 in reply to 132-9 and Adrian Emmott produced his best first team bowling figures for them, taking 7-46 off 21 overs, six maidens.

Aussie Barry McCormick smashed a quick 43 opening the the home side's innings before Andy Knowles took a superb catch off the bowling of Andy Pullen to dismiss him.

Ian Taylor was the only other Alwoodley batsman to reach double figures with an unbeaten 47 at the end after being dropped in the slips early in his innings.

Andy Waggett produced another excellent fielding performance to pick up another two league fielding points, taking his total to six this season.

The other Silsden bowling figures were John K Roberts 13-3-40-1 and Pullen 16-4-40-1.

The Silsden batsmen struggled against the aggressive bowling of McCormick and the tight bowling of spinner P Mercer.

Opener David Jackson was caught and bowled for 19 after looking the most comfortable against McCormick and Tim Sugden and Pullen saw the Cobbydalers through to the finish with Sugden unbeaten on 25.

The Alwoodley bowling figures were McCormick 25-9-41-2, Mercer 21-5-41-2 and J Pickles 4-1-12-0.

Alwoodley: B McCormick c Knowles b Pullen 43; M Dallaston c Knowles b Emmott 1; G Weir b Emmott 6; C Green c H Sugden b Emmott 8; G Broughill c J Akrigg b Emmott 5; J Pickles c J Akrigg b Emmott 0; P Chapman c H Sugden b Emmott 3; I Taylor not out 47; D Booth b Emmott 4; P Mercer c Waggett b J Roberts 3; G Metcalfe not out 4; extras 8; total (for 9) 132.

Silsden: D Jackson c and b McCormick 19; A Knowles lbw McCormick 10; A Waggett c Taylor b Mercer 13; J Akrigg c Booth b Mercer 11; T Sugden not out 25; B Walker c Green b Mercer 7; H Sugden c Chapman b Mercer 4; A Pullen not out 4; extras 6; total (for 6) 100.

Skipton had a winning draw at home to Guiseley. They scored 175-9 with Sean Atkinson hitting 44, Steve Young 43 and Gareth Lee 32, and Guiseley scored 140-8, P Pickles getting 35, and Mick Scott taking 5-60 for Skipton.

Steeton won by three wickets away to Hall Park, scoring 181-7 in reply to the home side's 178-9, Gary Boulton taking 3-25 and Chris Taylor 3-56 and Neil Spragg scoring 50 and Andy Smith 45 not out for the winners. For Hall Park P Kempton got 50 and D Rock took 3-29 and C Collymore 3-55.

Addingham won by five wickets at home to Menston, Darrell Robinson hitting an excellent 136, including six sixes and 17 fours, for the winners. The visitors scored 203-9, N Thornton getting 49, and Chris Campbell taking 4-56 and Richard Simpson 3-67 for Addingham, who won with 204-5, Stephen May getting 38.

Silsden 2nds had a winning draw at home to Hall Park 2nds, the South Craveners being all out for 201 and the visitors replying with 163-1.

After losing the toss Silsden were given a great start on a wet wicket by Stuart Tillotson, 31, and David Bainbridge, 45, who saw the score to 89 in 23 overs before Bainbridge was dismissed.

Tillotson was out in the next over, Steve Crooks followed shortly after and after a quick-fire 17 so did David Wall. This left captain David Akeroyd, 36, and Ian Pullen, 16, at the crease as the two remaining recognised batsmen.

And Akeroyd was well into his stride after hitting spinner A Atkinson for six when a powerful drive from Pullen was deflected by the bowler onto the stumps and he was run out.

Paul Tatterton and Pullen then saw the score to 180 with seven overs left only for a collapse to end the innings early although the side were not unhappy with their total. The visitors' bowling figures were C Hester 16-1-67-7, J Haigh 12-1-34-1, Atkinson 12-1-45-1 and S Warnes 9-2-40-0.

Hall Park's reply start promisingly until Atkinson was caught in the gully for 39 which left Hester and M Allan feeling they had to settle for a draw with 33 overs to go!

The Silsden bowling figures were David Baluk 26-3-62-1, Wall 9-1-29-0, Crooks 8-1-34-0 and Akeroyd 8-0-35-0.

Silsden 2nds: D Bainbridge c Allan b Hester 45; S Tillotson c Fernley b Atkinson 31; D Akeroyd run out 36; S Crooks c Moltus b Hester 8; D Wall b Hester 17; I Pullen b Haigh 16; P Tatterton b Hester 12; D Baluk c Warnes b Hester 7; S Bainbridge c Allan b Hester 5; G Byrne not out 1; P Hanson c Warnes b Hester 0; extras 20; total 201.

Hall Park 2nds: A Atkinson c Akeroyd b Baluk 39; C Hester not out 46; M Allan not out 59; extras 4; total (for 1) 163.

Steeton will be aiming to win the Waddilove Cup for the first time when they take on Knaresborough in the final at Bilton on Sunday, start 2pm.

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