OTLEY have extended their lead in the Premier Division of the Aire-Wharfe League to 23 points after nearest rivals Collingham followed up their Super Over defeat by Steeton, after a tie in the Waddilove Cup, with another tie - this time at home to North Leeds.

Hosts Adel, who won their first two matches before surprisingly losing to Tong Park Esholt, were sent in by Otley and were 160-4 before stuttering to 192 all out, Stephen Brown (4-59) and Ollie Halliday (4-41) doing most of the damage, Damon Reeve chipping in with a miserly 2-24 off 13 overs.

Otley’s reply was dominated by Ben Morley, who took his side to a three-wicket victory in the 44th over by scoring 105 not out off 100 balls, including 14 fours and three sixes.

Fellow opener George Huntley (15) helped him add 40, skipper Josh Atkinson (19) also being the minor partner in a stand of 55 for the second wicket and, although wickets then fell regularly at the other end, Morley was still there at the finale to walk off to deserved applause.

Rawdon have found their feet after a trouncing by Horsforth Hall Park, and made it three wins on the bounce to climb to third after a well-timed run chase at Tong Park Esholt.

TPE won the toss and made 212, with George Solti-Dupas (3-41), Joe Smith (3-37) and Tom Wrigglesworth (2-56) leading the way among the five wicket-takers.

Rawdon were on the back foot at 57-3, despite 40 from opener Andrew Duckworth, but captain Smith and Tom Watson continued their good form with a match-winning partnership of 137.

Smith hit seven fours and two sixes in his 59, while Watson ended on 77 not out, including 13 fours and two sixes, as the visitors won by five wickets with 13 balls remaining.

After two convincing defeats, Burley are also turning their season around, and made it two straight victories with a 25-run win over Hall Park in a run-fest.

Jason Wright and Joe Hall fell early after home side Burley were sent in, but no-one failed after that as they racked up 276-5, Dan Revis (65) and Jason Krafft (69) starting the revival with a stand of 131.

Revis’ runs came at almost a run a ball and included 10 fours and a six, while Krafft was more sedate, facing 90 deliveries, which contained nine fours and two sixes.

Then skipper Nicky Bulcock continued the good work with 61 not out off 70 balls, including six fours, Sam Fox scoring 43 off 51 balls as they added 97 for the fifth wicket.

Hall Park made a good fist of their reply, which was built around a stand of 89 for the third wicket between Michael Loubser (80) and Priyank Kohli, who was very much the junior partner with 19.

Loubser, who is as capable of big feats as Ben Morley, took only 37 balls to reach that score, including four fours and eight sixes, and keeper Andy Bairstow then took up the cudgels with a 60-ball 65 that included two fours and five sixes, adding 85 for the eighth wicket with Dev Sehara (24).

But the last three wickets went for just four runs, leaving Hall Park 27 runs short of victory, Fox (3-53) and Bulcock (3-97) completing fine all-round matches.

Burley are fourth on 51 points, two places and five points ahead of Pool, who lost by 24 runs at home to Saltaire.

The visitors won the toss but could only score 144 as the wickets were shared between Sam Lawrence (3-27), Will Pallister (2-29), Charlie Bradbourne (2-39) and Krutik Patel (2-48).

Pool were 66-1 after their top three all made starts, but Robert Goldthorp (27) was the only batter to trouble the scorers unduly after that as they were back in the pavilion for 120, Ihsan Isanullah taking 6-25.

Addingham are top of Division One by five points, but had to endure squeaky-bum time as they denied visitors Calverley a first victory of the season.

St Wilfrids had first knock and made 164, Jacob Spencer finishing on 68 not out, with new-ball bowlers Ricky Palacio (3-45) and Rob Ellis (2-57) doing the damage up front.

Then Addingham found their own middle-order hero as Nick Farrell scored 63 not out to take them to a one-wicket win, needing a last-wicket stand of four to get them over the line in the 45th over.

Palacio (22) and Will Atkins (23) made contributions up the order.

It was equally tense at Olicanian, who had a 21-run partnership to take them to a one-wicket victory over Harden with eight balls to spare.

The visitors scored 201-9, Tom Starkey bagging 5-33, but the game looked up for Ollies when they were 182-9, only for captain Mustafa Sajjad (15no) and Thilip Kumar Sappani (4no) to get them over the line.

Dave Healey (40), keeper Stephen Wilkinson (27), Manley du Preez (24), Ethan McLelland (22) and Tom Smallwood (21) had earlier helped Olicanians into the situation where their last pair could win it.

Senses were also heightened at New Rover, where Ilkley won by three runs.

Ilkley’s innings was going nowhere at 31-4 until James Raper came to the crease.

He scored 49, being run out, adding 44 for the seventh wicket with James Bourke (23) as Ilkley made 157.

New Rover were favourites at 102-3, but lost three wickets for six runs only for a partnership of 31 to put them back in with a chance, though they fell just short at 154-9 as Rob Spivey took 3-30 and Bourke 3-46.

Menston, fourth last season in the third tier, are determined not to miss out again, handing Division Two leaders Kirkstall their first defeat of the season to narrow the gap with them to one point.

Sarfaraz Ahmed took 4-55 as visitors Kirkstall, sent in, made 169-9 in a card that was dominated by Stuart Lister (69) and keeper George Elliott (33no).

Captain and keeper Adam Montague-Miller (42) and Tom Mounsey (41) then put on 95 for Menston’s first wicket, and although four batters fell with only 10 more added, they were seen home in the 47th over by Fraser Oates (34no), who had witnessed the stutter at the non-striker’s end, and Charlie O’Hara (25no).

Horsforth, who are fifth, handed basement boys Rodley their fourth defeat of the season.

Rodley, sent in, made 144, having been 118-4, as Danny Taylor (5-47) polished off the long tail alongside Brad Moritz (2-21).

Openers Tom Colley (27) and skipper Joe O’Gorman (32) then gave Horsforth the solid start they were craving with a partnership of 48, and smaller contributions of 18 by Moritz, 17 not out by Jonny Lister and 15 not out by Charlie Eastwood helped them to a five-wicket win in the 36th over.

Green Lane were at Beckfoot Lane, where Bingley Congs made 212 in an uneven card after winning the toss, Jack Roberts taking 5-57 and Ben Roberts 3-57.

The visitors had four players who topped 20 - Michael Ellis (38), Dan Frost (34), skipper Danny Husband (29) and Bradley Hallas (23) - but there was not enough support elsewhere as they were dismissed for 165.

Leeds Modernians did not move up a place - they are still second from bottom - but put themselves in and among four other clubs by notching their first win of the season.

Thackley are one of those and were their opponents at Ainsbury Avenue, Mods making 144 after being asked to bat.

Captain Jonathan Wiggan (43) put on 41 for the second wicket with Dirdh Patel (18), and Wiggan then added 47 for the fourth with Jacob Douglas (23).

Thackley never threatened after tea and were back in the pavilion for 105, new-ball pair Stuart Borrill taking 6-25 and Ashley Rowden 3-41.