NEITHER Otley nor Rawdon seem to be able to hold onto the top spot in Division 1 of the Aire-Wharfe League.

In pole position after inflicting a first defeat of the season on their title rivals last time out, Rawdon suffered a 146-run thrashing at reigning champions Saltaire.

Electing to bat, wicketkeeper Bilal Hamid was in fine form for the hosts, with his 155 from 112 deliveries – which included 15 fours and seven sixes – helping them to a competitive 307.

However, big hitters Ben Morley and James Dobson couldn’t propel Rawdon to victory, the latter top-scoring with 35 as Ali-Hassan Ahmed (3-12), Mussawar Shah (2-46), and Amjid Hussain (2-46) cashed in with the ball.

Instead, it’s now Otley who lead the way after a narrow 29-run win at fourth-placed Collingham & Linton.

The visitors owed much of their 237-9 to all-rounders Steve Brown (41) and Charlie Simondson (69), who put on 64 for the seventh wicket as Charlie Swallow (4-57) and Toby Jacklin (3-68) proved effective.

Jacklin (33), Jack Harrison (45 not out), and Ed Hayhurst (30) kept the scoreboard ticking over nicely but Otley’s bowlers paid dividends, Damon Reeve (4-52) and Ollie Halliday (2-19) starring as the hosts were bowled out for 208.

Burley-in-Wharfedale maintained third place at cellar-dwellers Ilkley, despite the hosts posting a competitive 221.

Most of that total came from Sam Housam (81), who put on 60 for the first wicket with Terry Pattinson (18) and 53 with Andrew Rhodes (50) for the fifth against the bowling of youngster Joe Hall (4-45) and Red Bolton (2-17).

The visitors got off to a lightning start in reply, scoring their first 50 runs midway through the fifth over, with Nick Brook making an unbeaten 102 from 127 deliveries to steer them to victory.

Addingham continued their strong start after a 161-run partnership between openers Richard Atkins (99) and Ricky Palacio (66) saw them chase down North Leeds’ 229-8, despite Harpal Ryatt (60) and Amir Farooq (55) having notched a century partnership of their own before tea.

Horsforth Hall Park also claimed a four-wicket win at home to fellow newly-promoted New Rover, with Alfie Spencer (6-50) and Tom Lester (53) starring as they chased down 185 in 46 overs, a total that Fahid Rehman (72) had contributed almost half to.

That result, combined with a five-wicket loss that saw them pick up just three points at Bilton, pushed Beckwithshaw into the relegation zone.

A 50-run partnership between Joe Holderness (35) and wicketkeeper Ross Sedgley (34) formed the majority of the visitors’ disappointing 126 as they struggled against the bowling of Sam Dale (5-12), Tuseif Arshad (3-52), and Luke Jarvis (2-34).

Holderness (4-41) then proved effective with the ball, but the hosts reached their target in just 27 overs, Cameron Martin (43) and Dale (29) leading the charge.

It was first versus last as Division 2 leaders Tong Park Esholt faced off against Horsforth at King George’s Field.

Electing to bat, Horsforth found themselves 0-1 and 14-2 before Will Joyce (66 no) saw them notch 176, with Saqib Mir (4-53) and Fawad Maqsood (3-40) the best of the bowlers.

Dan Groom (58) was then backed up by Pritesh Lad (38) as the visitors reached their target for the loss of six wickets in the 39th over.

Pool and Follifoot are tied on 155 - just eight points behind the leaders – but suffered contrasting fortunes at home to Steeton and Adel respectively.

Krutik Patel (79), Rob Goldthorp (73), and Will Pallister (47) all made notable contributions as Pool posted 222-6, before Charlie Bell (5-45) and Pallister (3-51) bowled the visitors out for 203, despite the best efforts of Jack Ramage (69).

Electing to bat, skipper Elliot Audsley (59) helped Adel make 230 at Follifoot, with the hosts falling just five runs shy of their target, captain Nick Robinson (54) top-scoring.

Colton Institute’s match at Olicanian went the full 100 overs, with Ryan Morley’s century seeing the hosts chase down 217-9 to claim a two-wicket win, while Mohammed Altaf (84 no) was also in fine form for Bardsey as they eclipsed Calverley St Wilfrids’ 226-9 with two overs remaining.

The only other match in the division saw Green Lane leapfrog visitors Harden in a bottom-of-the-table clash at Nunroyd Park, with Mark Portlock (94 no) and Tom Stordy (56) helping the visitors make a competitive 248-5.

But that total proved not to be enough, Asif Yousaf (55) and Maxwell Lee (49) seeing Green Lane reach their target in the 47th over. By Emma Kennedy