RAWDON have replaced Otley at the top of the Aire-Wharfe League Division One after securing maximum points at New Rover, writes Emma Kennedy.

Waleed Akhtar (56) formed the backbone of the hosts’ 225 before falling victim to the impressive Joe Smith (5-71), with the ever-reliable Ben Morley (91) and James Dobson (59 not out) then seeing Rawdon home with 10 overs to spare.

The Leeds side now head the division by two points, and with a game in hand over their closest challengers Otley, who could only pick up eight points after failing to chase down Addingham’s 243-6.

The visitors’ seven bowlers struggled to make inroads against a strong ‘Dingham attack that included Ricky Palacio (84), but despite James Davies (67) and Alex Atkinson (51) putting on 120 for the first wicket, Ted Haggas (4-77) ensured Otley fell 11 runs shy of their target.

Third-placed Saltaire missed the chance to close the gap after falling to a two-wicket defeat at Beckwitshaw, Mussawar Shah top-scoring in their 229 as Harry Lister (6-61) cleaned up with the ball.

Callum Doak’s blistering 72 not out from just 38 deliveries – including five fours and five sixes – then saw the hosts over the line with three overs remaining.

Nick Brook’s 81 helped Burley-in-Wharfedale to a 73-run victory at home to Collingham & Linton, youngster Joe Hall taking a fantastic 5-51 after tea as the visitors were bowled out for 184 in reply to their competitive 257-8.

North Leeds are off the bottom at the expense of Ilkley, but claiming the maximum 20 with a 35-run victory at Horsforth Hall Park was not enough to propel them out of the relegation zone.

Electing to bat, skipper Taran Chana, Yash Pednekar, and Harry Kellaway all made half-centuries in the visitors’ 238-5, with change bowler Michael Shelton (4-54) ensuring no batter topped Tom Watson’s 40 as the hosts were bowled out for 203 in reply.

Ilkley are now nine points adrift at the bottom after falling to a five-wicket defeat at home to fellow strugglers Bilton, middle-order Andrew Rhodes (52), and James Nixon (46) the only two to trouble the visiting bowlers as they could only set a target of 184 for victory.

A 91-run partnership between Sam Dale (97no) and Jamie Bryant (42no) then set up a thrilling finish, Bilton squeaking home in the penultimate over.

Tong Park Esholt remain the favourites to replace them in the top flight after claiming maximum points with a 53-run win at home to Adel.

Electing to bat, skipper Dave Hester (81) helped the hosts post a competitive 267-8 before joining openers Josh Bennett and Shahid Mehmood in taking three wickets apiece to bowl the visitors out for 214 in reply.

Charlie Bell was the standout as Pool strengthened their second-placed position at Olicanian, scoring 61 from 71 deliveries with the bat before taking 5-43 as the hosts fell 28-runs short of their 228 target, despite wicketkeeper-batsman James Skingle hitting a fine 107.

Though without the services of Mat Nutter, Steeton prepared for their Waddilove Cup final win with maximum points after cruising to a 72-run victory against Follifoot at Summerhill Lane, Jack Ramage (105) and Paul Quinlan (53) the pick of the batters in their 236-7.

Stevie Pearson (5-30) and Adam Hardwick (4-59) then won through with the ball, with only two batters making over 30 in Follifoot’s reply of just 164.

Colton Institute also enjoyed success at home to strugglers Bardsey, Ian Philliskirk (43) and Kian England (42) top-scoring in their 256 before both being caught off the bowling of Waqas Rasheed (5-61).

Captain Tom Clayton (33) was then as good as it got for the visitors as they fell 88 runs short of their target.

Despite Chris Coates’ 5-35, Harden came out on top in their match at home to Calverley, Dan Viles (5-34) and Romil Butt (4-41) tearing through the visitors’ line-up after tea to ensure they fell just 29 runs shy of their 183 target.

The only other match saw Horsforth fall to a 13th defeat of the season against Green Lane at King George’s Field, despite Mitch Bunker hitting a stunning 111 from 108 deliveries.

Azhar Mehmood’s staggering 8-63 had set the visitors a target of 267 for victory, with Maxwell Lee (87), Mehmood (53 no), and Arsaam Malik seeing them over the line with just two balls to spare.