Key Bradford derby won by Clayton as Low Moor hurt by Earle

Trinity opted to field and with Royd at 97-7, they must have been pleased with progress.

However, Earle, already at the crease, then let loose and his runs came from just 87 balls, with 14 fours and 10 sixes.

After he was out, with the score at 189-8, the Rams added a further 40 to close on 229, with Matthew Jordan taking 5-48.

To make Earle’s day complete he was one of four bowlers who restricted Trinity to 227-6 as Royd won a thriller by two runs.

Oliver Brook’s 70 kept Low Moor in the hunt, but neither that nor a late cameo from Adam Forbes, with 39 not out from just 23 balls, was enough.

In the clash between second and third in the table, Clayton took the plaudits as they beat Great Horton Park Chapel by 55 runs to move within two points of their visitors.

Batting first, there was another career best, with Scott Etherington hitting 145 at a run a minute.

He shared partnerships of 99 and 96 runs respectively with David Paynter (60) and Michael Nicholson (49) as Clayton posted 296-6.

That proved too many for Horton, despite a fine effort from Fahad Shabbir (130no), aided by Ricky Hassall (54), as the innings closed on 241-6.

The main benefactors of the above clash were Upper Hopton, who extended their lead at the top to nine points with a 37-run victory at home to Blackley.

The twists in the battle for the two promotion places will continue, however, as Hopton have to meet both Clayton and Great Horton Park Chapel in the next two weeks.

Premier Division leaders Thornton had a scare for the second week in succession, on this occasion scraping home by one wicket at Oxenhope.

The hosts opted to bat and only posted 136, Alex Baker topping the scoring with 42.

Alex Baker had an eventful afternoon at the crease, and the day ended in heartbreak for he and his Oxenhope team-mates. (Image: John Ashton.)

However, the dressing-room tea interval inquest must have been on how on earth they managed to suffer four run outs, including that of Baker, who was involved in all of them.

A second inquest followed as they let Thornton off the hook at the close, after reducing them to 114-9,

The Thornton reply started badly as Grant Soames was caught off the first ball of the innings and their race look run when the penultimate wicket fell with 23 still needed to win.

But the key moment came when Nikki Hutchinson (29no) was dropped when on just six, as it was he and No.11 Dominic Anderson (5no), who scrambled the leaders over the line.

It was a devastating blow for Liam Witney (4-40), who had caused the Thornton batsmen all manner of problems.

Luddendenfoot, struggling for players, were rolled over for only 65 at home to Shelf Northowram Hedge Top, as Luke Smith took 5-25.

Hedge Top required only 11 overs to score a winning 69-3, with the whole match lasting less than 33 overs.

In the Second Division, the top two both won and it now looks like a straight battle between leaders Sowerby St Peter’s and Oakworth, the latter travelling to third-placed Stones and winning by 73 runs.

Bradley & Colnebridge moved off the bottom of the table as they won by 59 runs at Queensbury, who asked the visitors to bat.

B&C were in trouble at 68-6, but Shahid Khan (66) and Usman Hussain (41no) righted the ship and the innings closed on 190-7, Khalid Mahmood taking 5-36.

Queensbury opener James Myers (50no) then had to watch as all his team’s ten wickets fell at the other end, two run outs not helping Queensbury’s cause as they were dismissed for 131.

Bridgeholme drop into bottom spot following a 201-run thrashing at Mount.

Finally, Cullingworth’s long trip to Leymoor brought them an easy seven-wicket win.

Elliot Robinson took 5-38, as Leymoor could only score 94, with Charlie Smith (42no) leading the 22-over reply as Cullingworth won with 96-3.