Aire-Wharfe League The pre-season favourites Horsforth have stepped up their Division Three promotion bid.

They moved to within a point of second-placed Upper Wharfedale after defeating them by three wickets.

Dylan Budge (4-35) Mark McEneaney (4-38) impressed as Upper Wharfedale were dismissed for 154.

Horsforth looked to be strolling to the six points when openers Mark Gilliver (72) and Chris Binks (53) put on 125, but Australian Bobby Wilson (4-9) sparked a collapse which resulted in the home side limping to their target.

Skipton extended their lead to eight points with a crushing eight-wicket win over Olicanian.

Opener Chris Wheeler top scored with 70 in an Olicanian total of 212-8 which looked a reasonable target until Arshad Latif got to work.

He smashed nine sixes in a stunning 107 as Skipton, a side who had to apply for re-election last season, recorded their ninth win.

Little is going right for bottom team Silsden. Menston’s Gareth Lee (7-47) reduced them to 187 all out after a second-wicket partnership between Simon Cox (65) and Mohammed Imran (44) had promised so much more.

Even though heavy rain restricted the number of overs available to them, Dean Harvey (85) clinched the win for Mentson.

William Brown (44no) top scored as Hall Park beat Alwoodley, while even a 5-51 spell from Joe Midgley couldn’t stop Woodhouse going past Addingham’s 194 total.

Beckwithshaw stretched their lead at the top of Division One to 27 points after bowling out Ben Rhydding for just 43 with Istikhar Hussain taking 6-17.

There was a moment when a shock looked possible with the leaders at 29-5 but Yasar Ali (28no) clinched his side’s tenth win.

After a good run of results, Guiseley were bowled out for 133 in reply to Collingham’s 218-8. They were 55-7 before Chris Wain (47) gave the score some respectability.

Matt O’Grady (58no) starred as Otley recovered from 62-4 to pass Burley’s 180-8 with five wickets in hand.

The only consolation for Burley was that their top scorer was teenager Harry Brook (31), son of David and the latest member of the remarkable Brook family to play for the club.

Pool recorded their fifth win of the season as they defeated a Harden side that was promoted with them last season and is fighting against relegation, by eight wickets.

Despite the efforts of Richard Wear (32) and Ben Burkill (32), Harden were dismsised for 156 with Matt Naylor taking 4-43 and overseas player Vikram Dhariwal (3-21).

Opener Josh Inglis continued his excellent form with 79 and he and Dhariwal sped Pool to their target.

Steeton eased their relegation fears when they beat second-bottom Follifoot.

Jonthan Best (6-59) and Stephen Pearson (3-52) restricted the visitors to 220 and John Akrigg (52) and Ben Hillard (42) made sure Steeton picked up the win that put them 18 points above the drop zone.

The Division Two title race is continuing to provide lots of excitement.

There the top five are separated by just five points and the jockeying for the two promotion spots looks set to run to the final match of the season.

Ilkley bounced back from defeat the week before to crush relegation threatened Bardsey.

Danny Bott (62) and Aussie Harry Nielsen (61) led the way as Ilkley raced to 257-8 before Henry Wilson (4-17) and Luke Bott (3-26) skittled out Bardsey for just 86.

Leaders Rawdon looked in charge when they reached 225-7 at Thackley with James Milligan (40) and Andrew Doidge (40) top scoring. B ut some stubborn batting by Bradley Goodaire (47) and Paul Naylor (42no) and a shortage of overs caused by rain, meant both sides had to settle for one point.

That allowed Knaresbor- ough to take over top spot after they eased past the Bolton Villas’ total of 189-8 in which Steve Shuttle- worth was unbeaten on 74.

Tong Park Esholt looked set to go top when they reached 137-3 chasing Colton’s 218 total.

Two quick wickets slowed the momentum and even though Graham Wilkinson (41) put them back on track, the last five wickets fell for the addition of just five runs.

A half century, fifth-wicket stand between Julian Thor- hill (68) and Jonathan Hud- son (27) helped Calverley to 175 and with Tim Lomas (6-39) having Adel on the back foot, the bottom club looked set for their second win.

But they were unable to claim the final wicket and had to settle for one point that leaves them bottom.

Green Lane had a day to forget when they were dismissed for 76 by North Leeds, who lost six wickets in reaching the target.