TONG Park Esholt have taken another large stride towards safety in the Aire-Wharfe League Premier Division.

They won by nine wickets at already-relegated Bilton to put themselves 45 points ahead of the relegation places with only 60 points to play for, although they have a difficult run in, facing Pool away and Horsforth Hall Park and Burley at home.

Bilton won the toss but made little impression and were dismissed for 116 as Dave Hester took 5-23 and Shahid Mehmood 2-38.

Jake Sali (38) and Hester (55no) then eased any nerves with an opening stand of 102 as TPE triumphed in the 21st over.

They are now seventh, only 10 points below Saltaire, who are a place above them.

The latter made 236 after winning the toss at Adel, who replied with 238-7 in the 47th over.

Bolton Villas are sixth in Division One after making no mistake at home to relegation-threatened Bardsey.

Sent in, Villas made 211, Bardsey replying with 164.

Calverley are out of a relegation place, putting Bardsey there instead after a seven-wicket win at New Rover.

The hosts made 226 after winning the toss, Nav Panesar taking 6-46, and Calverley made light of that run chase by triumphing in the 45th over, opener Tayyab Riaz (95no) and Jacob Spencer (82) putting on 131 for the second wicket.

Riaz, who hit eight fours and four sixes off 115 deliveries, then added 52 for the third with Jacob Westwood (14), Spencer’s runs including 12 fours and a six off 101 balls.

Calverley are a point ahead of Bardsey, who both have to play Ilkley on the run-in.

Bingley Congs, who have dropped a place to fifth in Division Two, were no match for promotion-seeking visitors Kirkstall Educational, who dismissed them for 160 after winning the toss.

Congs had three players out in the thirties - captain George Hicks (32), overseas Jarrod Klauer (34) and Neil Copping (30), Josh Nutting (27) just failing to reach that mark.

Kirkstall then won by seven wickets in the 35th over, despite not scoring quickly against the new-ball pair.

Thackley remain eighth after defeating bottom-of-the-table Rodley in a high-scoring clash at Ainsbury Avenue.

Sent in, Thackley made 299, openers Ryan MacMillan (43) and Adam Boocock (18) putting on 63 before Aftab Khan took over with a remarkable innings of 154.

Coming to the wicket with the score on 79-3, he hit 18 fours and nine sixes off just 93 deliveries, adding 130 with Saad Khan, whose contribution was only 18 as Kamran Ali took 5-95 and Jackson Dodd 3-81.

Rodley made a spirited reply of 251, captain Bailey Wilson scoring 78 at No 7 off just 74 balls, including 11 fours and a six,putting on 52 with Dodd (26) and 94 with Tom Goodings (38), Craig Wiseman taking 4-48.