Guiseley faltering in title quest (From Wharfedale Observer)

Guiseley faltering in title quest

1:42pm Thursday 7th August 2008

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Guiseley's faltering Airedale and Wharfedale League Division One title hopes sustained another blow when they only picked up two points from a drawn game at neighbours Green Lane.

Michael Abbott hit a superb unbeaten 96 to help Lane to 212 for six and only a battling display from John Ormesher (62no) took Guiseley past the 159 target for a second point.

Abbott had received some support from Phil Atkinson with 26 and fellow opener David Whittaker with 17 but by and large it was a one man show.

Kirkstall Educational have opened up a nine point gap at the top of the table as they seek a league and cup double. Warming up for Sunday's Waddilove Cup final win over Otley they chased a fine Bilton score of 280-6 and gained victory with six wickets in hand.

For Bilton D Simpson made a fine 108 and Miles Corish 103 but Kirkstall also had their batting heroes in Josh Siddall (87) and skipper Stuart Hudson (83no).

Denis Rock (55) and Andrew Doidge (42) helped Rawdon to 204 for eight before Stuart Dobson (6-53) bowled out Burley for 112 to clinch their first win since mid-June.

Otley skipper James Davies had a spell of four for 39 but it wasn't enough to stop Collingham beating Otley by three wickets as last season's champions came off the bottom of the table at last.

A knock of 61 from Dave Standring was the backbone of the Adel score of 125 but North Leeds knocked off the runs for the loss of seven wickets despite the efforts of Andrew MacCammond who took 5-55.

Pool struggled against a varied Beckwithshaw bowling attack in which Joe Downing (4-16) and Nick Louden (3-40) were the main wicket takers.

Richard Henry and Phil Dibb were top scorers for Pool, each with 24.

Beckwithshaw reached the target for the loss of just three wickets with a half-century from opener Stuart Carey and 44 from fellow opener Paul Critchley as the pair shared a stand of 110.

Division Two Harden climbed out of the bottom two for the first time since late May with a three wicket win that sent Follifoot crashing from Division Two promotion hopefuls down to sixth place.

It was Harden's fourth unbeaten match in a row and hinged on a superb spell of six for 28 by Richard Wear that saw Follifoot bowled out for 106.

The going wasn't easy for Harden but with solid knocks from Gary Topp and Anthony Bairstow they reached their target.

At the other end of the table, second-placed Silsden enjoyed a crushing victory at nearest rivals Steeton to stay within five points of leaders Knaresborough.

Zeeshan Qasim was again the hero for Silsden, following up a top score of 62 in their 249 for eight with a six-wicket haul for the second week in a row, as Steeton were dismissed for just 91.

Aussie Ben Way (97) and James Freebury (56) put on 131 for the first wicket to set up Upper Wharfedale's 185 run thrashing of Olicanians for whom Richard Machell tried hard to stem the tide with a four for 30 return.

Only Nic Peterson showed any resistance with a knock of 33 as the Grassington men dismissed the Ilkley side for 90 in reply to their 275.

Danny Hall (54no) and Shane Franklin (4-50) starred in Calverley's five wicket win over Bardsey that lifts them into the top half of the table.

For Bardsey number eight J Smith top scored with 34 but only A Young had any success with the ball taking 4-50 off 24 overs as Calverley knocked off the runs.

Steve Young (5-27) had New Rover on the ropes and Danny Groom (51no) and Gareth Wilkinson (46no) finished them off to register Tong Park's second successive victory.

Aussie Dale Tormey again bagged the headlines for Knaresborough with a match winning 107 not out as he shared an unbroken third wicket stand of 142 with J Tattersall (50no) as they knocked off Colton's 166, Tormey having taken four for 57.

Division Three Ben Rhydding may be in the bottom reaches of Division Three but they are unbeaten since early June and took the scalp of promotion favourites Thackley.

Opener Laurie O'Connor top scored with 66 in Ben Rhydding's 205 for six before Nick Smith (4-51) and Alex Miller (4-4) bowled out Thackley for only 117.

O'Connor found support from Jack Marchant with 35.

Skipton's Steve Carling (98) and Ricky Martin (55) put on 161 for the fourth wicket as Skipton crushed Alwoodley.

Skipton posted 229-9 and then bowlers Simon Ashmore (3-3) and Ajay Rajput (3-21) polished off the visitors for a mere 87, Geoff Weir making the top score of 28.

Varan Devecher (56no) and Shrey Datta (4-11) starred as Bolton Villas continued their excellent season with a 21 run win over Hall Park.

Villas made a modest 150-7 but Park succumbed for 129 in reply although F Butt hit 21, M Tinsley 20 and J Postle 22.

Andrew Wheeler with five for 27 was the pick of the Ilkley bowlers as his side came within a wicket of beating Horsforth but had to settle for four points.

Addingham showed plenty of fighting spirit to resist leaders Illingworth and became only the second side not to be beaten by them this year.

Illingworth posted a useful 220-5 with Nick Lockley hitting two sixes and 18 fours in a superb 129. He shared an opening stand of 125 ewith J Bishop who made 36.

Addingham replied with 128-8 with hockey star Mark French making 39 and Oxford University soccer blue James Kelly 29 while Grant Lockley bagged four for 34 to keep Illingworth in the box seat.

There was no joy for Menston, who were bowled out for 85 by an in-form Woodhouse with Asim Allam taking five for 19 off 14 excellent overs and Steve Bray three for five off 7.4 overs.

The only players in double figures for Menston were opener S Holdsworth (13), Adam Campion (12) and Abe Smith (16).

Woodhouse took just 11.5 overs to knock off the runs despite losing both openers cheaply.

Qumar Shezad then steered them home with an excellent unbeaten 43.

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