Halifax League win for behemoths Thornton but Oxenhope close

Once the opener had gone for 39, Booth soon folded, and were out for a disappointing 137 in the 34th over as the wickets were shared around.

Thornton then never looked like losing, with opener Grant Soames anchoring their reply with 69.

After his departure, Matthew Wear (34 not out) ensured the 12 points that extended Thornton’s lead at the top to nine points.

At Luddendenfoot, second-placed Oxenhope were asked to bat and scored 236-9.

Nine of their batters reached double figure scores, led by Lewis Brown (51), their new signing from Bradford & Bingley, and Daniel Scott (40).

The hosts could only reply with 147 as only Nate Holdsworth (43) and Peter Ashton (37) showed any real resilience to the visiting attack, in which Scott took 5-38.

Warley & Elland did not enjoy their afternoon, being dismissed for only 91 at Hullen Edge against Shelf Northowram Hedge Top.

They slumped from 47-3 to 48-7, which effectively killed the innings, although Richard Hine (31no) stopped the immediate rot after the closure of Adam Ryszkowski’s superb 14-over spell of 6-23.

Akhar Sharif scored 39 as Hedge Top wasted little time in winning by seven wickets in the 19th over of the reply.

In the First Division, Blackley came a cropper when asked to bat at Upper Hopton, being dismissed for 49.

The writing was on the wall with the score at 3-4, and only two batters even reached double figures.

Jack Stephenson led with bowling with 4-13 and the match was over in the 11th over after tea as Hopton scored 50-1.

The clash of two of the top three at Clayton, where Great Horton Park Chapel visited, resulted in the home team moving to within six points of their opponents with an excellent 105-run win.

Sent in to bat, Clayton posted 218-6, with three batters - Michael Nicholson (56), Scott Etherington (49) and Matthew Roe (42no) scoring the bulk of the runs.

Former Cleckheaton captain Michael Nicholson top scored for Clayton as they enjoyed a statement win over Bradford rivals Great Horton Park Chapel on Saturday. (Image: Ray Spencer.)

Only Ricky Hassall (35) and Fahad Shabbir (29) showed any form whatsoever in Horton’s reply as they surprisingly could only muster 113. David Paynter (4-21) was the pick of the bowlers.

Low Moor Holy Trinity’s decision to bat at home to Mytholmroyd proved a mistake, as they could only manage 153-9, with Oliver Brook (42) and Mark Stokes (37no) top scoring.

Three Royd batters ensured the win as Tom Earle (49), Thomas Conway (43no) and Shazad Hassan (41) were in the groove.

Trinity are in danger of being dragged into the relegation fight, having only a four-point cushion over the bottom spot.

In the Second Division derby at Oakworth, the decision of Cullingworth to bat first backfired as they lost by four wickets in a low-scoring affair.

The visitors could only reach 86 in 33.4 overs as Jake Keslinke took 4-13 and Tom Fothergill 3-20.

Oakworth were in trouble at 33-4 in their reply but the middle order rallied, Keslinke top-scoring with 24.

At Queensbury, second-placed Mount opted to bat and scored 175, with Gareth Walker taking 5-53.

The home team fell eight runs short in their chase, with poor No.9 Joshua Baines left stranded on 33 not out.

Ismail Mayat was the most successful Mount bowler with 4-51.