THE decision to strip Follifoot of 79 points for fielding an ineligible player has thrown a lifeline to struggling Division One clubs like Guiseley and Ilkley, who meet in a vital Aire-Wharfe League clash tomorrow.

It promises to be a tense but intriguing battle. Ilkley have been improving lately, with Nick Cockcroft, Rory Kroon and Rob and Will Spivey in consistent good form. Meanwhile, having struggled to bowl out opponents early in the season, Guiseley have dismissed leaders Beckwithshaw and Burley in their last two matches.

Beckwithshaw looked set to run away with the title in the opening weeks of the campaign but have suffered a couple of setbacks recently, not least when Burley bowled them out for 121 in the cup last weekend.

That will encourage Steeton, who host them tomorrow in optimistic mood after James Freebury's match-winning spell of 6-39 against Follifoot lifted them into the top half of the table.

The loudest support for Steeton will come from Otley, who will expect to beat North Leeds quite comfortably and could go clear at the top if their rivals stumble.

Boosted by that cup win, Burley seek to stop their slide down the table but will not find it easy against a Collingham side who also have Beckwithshaw among their recent scalps.

Rawdon take on Bilton, who have flourished in recent weeks largely thanks to the form of stalwarts Paul Cannings and Vic Craven.

Like Follifoot, Green Lane had their early-season points stripped from them – so instead of a clash against a Division Two promotion rival, the visit by second-placed Horsforth is just another chance to dig themselves out of trouble.

Their first target is overhauling Ben Rhydding, who are still looking for their first win as they entertain Knaresborough.

Just above them are Thackley. They entertain Pool, who are sitting handily in third place hot on the heels of the leading pair.

Tong Park Esholt have the best chance of putting space between them and the other strugglers when they take on Adel, who are only a point better off and have lost three of their last four games.

Fourth-placed Skipton are eight points behind Colton in top spot and will travel to Illingworth looking for maximum points while hoping Harden can upset the leaders.

Old Modernians' defeat of Division Three leaders New Rover in a high-scoring thriller squeezed the table so that just 16 points cover the top five.

Olicanian moved to within four points, a gap they will hope to close against Alwoodley.

But they will be aware their opponents defeated Addingham last week and so prevented them taking over at the summit. Intriguingly, third-placed Addingham now look to bounce back against Old Mods in fifth.

Sandwiched between them are Bolton Villas, who should be too strong for Bardsey, while all of them will hope that Hall Park can cause an upset by stretching their winning run to three matches at home to New Rover.

Sixth-placed Menston are only 18 points off the promotion places and should make up some ground at home to Upper Wharfedale.

Calverley will hope to end a two-match losing streak against Silsden, who are still looking for their first win.