Silsden went top of the Aire-Wharfe League first division -- in style, at the weekend.

It is 21 years since the Cobbydale club last revelled in top spot, and they made not mistakes getting there.

Due to poor weather their match against Illingworth was reduced to 20 overs a side.

Illingworth batted first and were kept to a reasonable score of 98 thanks to some outstanding fielding from the Silsden side, especially 14-year-old bebutant Chris Meehan. Andrew Pullen and J K Roberts never really let the Illingworth batters relax, with some well thought out bowling on difficult running conditions.

Enter Andrew Knowles with a match winning performance for Silsden, taking the Illingworth attack to the cleaners.

He smashed four sixes and one four in an unbeaten 67 off 47 balls. Bruce Walker supported well with an unbeaten 29 off 39 balls.

Tomorrow Silsden travel to Ilkley which should be their toughest test of the season.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.