WET weather again played havoc across the Aire-Wharfe League, with many matches seeing overs lost to the rain.

However, there were no problems for North Leeds, who ruthlessly dispatched last-placed Horsforth by 109 runs at St George’s Field in Division One.

Batting first, the visitors impressed, with Harry Kellaway (93 not out) and Amir Farooq (106 not out) forming a 186-run partnership to help them to 236-3 from 35 overs.

Wickets fell at regular intervals in Horsforth’s reply and they managed just 128-5.

Ilkley were the latest team to be beaten by runaway leaders Saltaire, with the Roberts Park side easing to a seven-wicket win.

Middle-order batsman James Nixon (44no) was the only one to stand out in Ilkley’s 140-7, with Mutashan Ali Shah and Zahir Abbas taking two wickets apiece.

Ilkley were no match for the league leaders, with Danish Hussain (43no), wicketkeeper Bilal Hamid (41), and Jibrael Malik (36) ensuring Saltaire reached their revised target of 134 from 34 overs with time to spare.

Rawdon continued their blistering form with a five-wicket win at Bilton, despite being without the services of the red-hot Ben Morley.

Middle-order Jamie Bryant and wicketkeeper Ryan Bradshaw (both 54) top-scored in the hosts’ competitive 195-8, with Andrew Doidge (3-40) and Jake Hodges (3-46) the best of the bowlers.

Despite losing opener Matt McCallum for a duck, the win was never in doubt for Rawdon, with a 115-run partnership between Joe Smith (85no) and George Myers (65) propelling them to their target with six overs remaining.

Elsewhere, Beckwithshaw’s mid-season struggles continued as they fell to a two-wicket defeat against Addingham at the Stag Den.

The hosts made a poor start but had wicketkeeper Miles Buller (42) and Sam Moore (32) to thank for helping them to 174, the pair putting on 76 for the seventh wicket, with Addingham’s Ted Haggas (3-41) impressing with the ball.

Will Atkins (41) set the visitors up nicely in their reply before a 43-run partnership between Haggas (37) and Edward Croft (27 no) saw them over the line with just five balls to spare, the wickets shared between Joseph Holderness (3-38), Oliver Hebblethwaite (2-31) and Ben Holderness (2-49).

New Rover extended their Division Two lead to 25 points after a five-wicket win at Kirkstall Educational, with the match reduced to 20 overs per side after a substantial rain delay.

Batting first, the hosts made 107-3, with Aadam Hussain (62no) helping them to recover from 1-2 after they had earlier lost Mali Bardouille-Lewis and Sam Vernon for ducks.

But Rohan Ratnalingam (37) and captain Aqsad Ali (33no) saw the league leaders reach their target with nine balls to spare, despite Hussain continuing his fine individual performance by taking 3-29 from six overs.

Behind them, Horsforth Hall Park moved within striking distance of the promotion places after what could prove to be a crucial win at second-placed Pool.

Krutik Patel (51) contributed almost half his side’s disappointing 117-8, with Horsforth’s Ricky Halloran (4-16) doing the damage with the ball.

Will Pallister (4-23) and Olly Boggie (3-30) ensured the visitors made a poor start in their reply, but a 43-run partnership between Jacob Phillips (12) and Sam Hyde (34no), along with 15 extras, saw Horsforth to 15 points and a comfortable victory.

Tong Park Esholt missed the chance to close the gap after a narrow one-wicket defeat at Colton Institute.

Placed into bat, the visitors made 193-9 from 48 overs, with Fawad Maqsood (43) and Dan Groom (39), performing well at the crease, despite the best efforts of the impressive Jonathon Horner (5-33).

Middle-order man Brad Fern (74) and wicketkeeper-batsman Rhys Olbison (26) were the only ones to make double figures for Colton, but their contributions proved to be just enough to see the hosts reach their revised target of 166 from 33 overs.

Weather conditions worsened on Sunday, but that didn’t stop Rawdon from earning a cup double after their second string beat 2019 runners-up Bilton II by one wicket in the Birtwhistle Cup final at Esholt Lane.

A 57-run partnership between skipper Neil Styrin (68) and Carl Heptinstall (32) helped Bilton recover from 67-5 to make 156, with Rawdon’s man of the match Jack Heaton taking 4-13 from his nine overs.

Opener Harry Nicholson’s 58 proved enough to see Rawdon over the line, despite a middle-order batting collapse, with No.11 Wayne Martell hitting the winning boundary in the final over.