WITH leaders Beckwithshaw crashing to their first Aire-Wharfe League defeat of the season at Collingham, Otley were able to reduce the gap to two points – but only after facing a nervy afternoon of their own.

Things looked quite comfortable against Guiseley when Ben Morley (54) put them on the way to a total of 229 to ensure full batting points in the DIVISION ONE clash. Bradley Reeve was the most successful bowler in taking 4-88.

Bottom side Guiseley had not been near 200 all season and, although they got off to a good start, their innings seemed to be on a familiar path when, on 115-4, Alex Bell (27) was caught by David Hester and Michael Stannard run out by Josh Atkinson without adding to the score.

Joe Inglis (64) and Chris Wain (34) put on 81 to raise hopes again but Ricky Halloran (5-50) and some sharp fielding made sure Guiseley came up eight short of victory.

Rawdon maintained their unbeaten record when Kuda Samunderu (60) and Andrew Duckworth (57) top-scored in their 265-8 to set up a 71-run win over Follifoot.

Shane Etherington picked up 5-62 in Bilton's 249-9 but, despite a solid start from Danny Bryan (33), Charlie Davy (54) and 16-year-old Harry Brook (62), Burley were dismissed for 204 as Vic Craven and Mustahsan Shah each took five wickets.

Nick Cockcroft followed up a four-wicket spell with a knock of 42 and Ian Chaplin hit a half-century but Ilkley could only muster 175 in reply to the 246-9 total of an increasingly impressive Kirkstall.

Neil Spragg took four wickets as North Leeds made 194-8 but Steeton could not capitalise and were dismissed for 150.

Early DIVISION TWO front-runners Green Lane were reeling after having all their points taken from them for fielding an ineligible player – but they started to rebuild their season with victory over Skipton.

Michael Slater (5-43) did most of the damage as Skipton reached 121 thanks to a ninth-wicket, half-century stand between Iqbal Khan (30) and Luke Facey (29no). Tom Cornwell (65no) and Siraj Hussain (27no) saw Lane home with seven wickets in hand but they remain bottom.

Horsforth's lead at the top was cut to a single point after they were skittled for 96 in reply to Colton's 118, despite a late flourish from number nine batsman Michael Lambert (26).

Ben Rhydding failed to build enough on a stand of 92 between Charlie Swallow (85) and Forrest Hamilton and Adel went past them with five wickets in hand.

And even though Shane Marshall's impressive 7-54 restricted Illingworth to 183, Thackley were still second best as only Josh Brooksbank (35) showed any form with the bat.

Paul Quinlan (40no) and Greg Newark (36) were the main contributors to Harden's 178-9, which was enough to beat Knaresborough. But Ajantha Weerapuli (82no) could not find enough partners in form to take Tong Park Esholt past Pool's 202-7.

There was no such problem at Addingham, who kept hot on the heels of DIVISION THREE leaders New Rover with a 159-run win over Bardsey.

Johnny Johnson smashed 18 fours and six sixes in racing to 134 off 82 balls and enjoyed a 160 stand with Ricky Palacio (77). Tom Smallwood rounded things off with an unbeaten half-century.

Hall Park pulled off an impressive six-wicket win over Old Modernians after James Carlill (5-34) and Daniel Holah (3-9) restricted the visitors to just 120.

Olicanian lost four cheap wickets after leading scorer Ian Thomas (34) was out – but Will Pearson (21) helped them to 128 before taking 3-21 and with Harry Smallwood (3-30) and Scott Sanderson (3-7) bowled out Upper Wharfedale for 110.

Bowlers dominated at Menston, where Calverley duo Jonathan Hudson (5-22) and Tom Simpson (3-17) dismissed the home side for 136.

Surprisingly, that proved enough because Charlie Parker produced a match-winning 7-46, despite the efforts of lower order batsmen Alastair Long (35), Scott Driscoll (16) and Ben Waller (23).

David Bayne included two wickets in consecutive balls in a 6-14 spell that saw Silsden dismissed for 65.

Defiant opener Tim Sugden was ninth man out with 22 and Bolton Villas eased to victory by six wickets to climb to fourth in the table.