THE depressingly familiar sight this summer of rain wrecking attempts to play cricket left the Aire-Wharfe League with two matches to go and almost nothing decided.

Guiseley were the one side able to breathe more easily, knowing that, after just one campaign in Division Two, they will join Colton in promotion to the top flight next season.

With Michael Truswell leading the division’s batting stats with 690 runs, Marcus Brown picking up 43 wickets so far and the all-found contribution of Richard Nichols with 563 runs and 40 wickets, Guiseley have been in the hunt from the start.

They have only suffered two defeats and would have had promotion in the bag some time ago but for the frustration of seven abandoned matches.

The only side that can still mathematically catch them is Knaresborough, who like Illingworth, have resigned from the league.

They will be replaced by Saltaire and Wetherby League outfit St Chads Broomfield who will come into Division Three and in order to accommodate them only one side will be relegated from the second division and three promoted.

With Thackley needing just five points from their last two matches to be safe, Harden look likely to take the drop they only avoided last season thanks to Green Lane’s points deduction.

Lane, meanwhile, are one of four teams fighting to fill those three spots. Hall Park lead the way with 288 points, seven ahead of Leeds Modernians. Tong Park Esholt, who were also relegated last season, are third with 276 with Green Lane on 263.

Olicanian still have a mathematical chance of grabbing the spot that just eluded them last year but it would take a massive collapse in form from the teams above them.

In Division One, Beckwithshaw are two points ahead of Otley in the chase for the title while at the other end five clubs could still provide the two to drop down.

Kirkstall and Steeton are odds on to be relegated, needing two wins while the sides above them – Collingham, Bilton and Rawdon – come away with nothing.