OTLEY continue to sit pretty at the top of Division One of the Aire-Wharfe League, making it eight wins from eight after seeing off reigning champions Saltaire at Roberts Park.

Electing to bat, the visitors made 198, mostly down to extras (30) and openers Alex Atkinson (66) and George Huntley (35), who put on 124 for the first wicket, with Mussawar Shah (5-32) and Mutashan Ali Shah (3-56) impressing with the ball.

Jibrael Malik (44) comfortably top-scored in Salts’ reply of just 148, Charlie Simondson (4-48), and Oli Halliday (3-31) the best of the bowlers.

James Dobson was the hero for second-placed Rawdon, who put last weekend’s defeat behind them with an 87-run win at home to Beckwithshaw.

His 109 from 125 deliveries formed the backbone of the hosts’ 281-8, a total that Beckwithshaw came nowhere near reaching – despite Oliver Hotchkiss smashing 74 from just 84 deliveries – the experienced Andrew Doidge (6-48) cleaning up with the ball as they were bowled out for 194.

Danger Hastings proved to be dangerous with the bat once again, his unbeaten century setting Burley on their way to a 160-run thrashing of North Leeds at the Homestead.

Nicky Bulcock, Jason Wright, and Red Bolton also notched over 50 for the visitors, who posted a competitive 382-5, with middle-order Aqib Iqbal (90 not out) starring in the hosts’ reply of 222 as Bulcock and Shane Etherington picked up three wickets apiece.

Collingham & Linton are up to fourth after leapfrogging opponents Addingham.

Placed into bat, Charlie Swallow (59) helped the hosts to 216-9, with Ted Haggas (6-81) proving the most prolific bowler, before Toby Jacklin took control with the ball after tea, his 7-25 reducing the visitors to just 101.

Horsforth Hall Park continued their steady start with a similarly emphatic 125-run win at home to Ilkley, with Sam Wilkinson (4-25) and John Brough (3-10) having a field day to bowl the visitors out for a paltry 67.

However, fellow promoted side New Rover are now in the drop zone, Jaques Allen (108) and ‘keeper Chris Peirson (48) seeing hosts Bilton squeak to a one-wicket win, despite Fahid Rehman (96) and skipper Dan Ranasinghe (72) having helped lay down a marker of 259-8 before tea.

Pool looked to be running away with the Division 2 crown, but successive defeats have seen the Wharfedale outfit drop to third.

Batting first, skipper Charlie Bell (36) and extras (23) contributed over half of their disappointing 94, with Shahid Mehmood (3-6) and Dave Hester (2-9) the best of Tong Park Esholt’s six bowlers.

Dru Patel (33) and George Hammond (22 no) then helped the visitors chase down their target in the 21st over, a result that sees them move above their opponents and into second.

Follifoot now lead the way after picking up maximum points with a 99-run win at home to Calverley.

Placed into bat, the outstanding Nick Robinson hit an unbeaten 143 from just 130 deliveries – backed up by opener Nat Cutts (65) – to propel the hosts to a competitive 285-7, with Cutts then taking 4-39 and Istikhar Hussain 3-33 as Calverley were bowled out for 186, Lachlan Cork (51) top-scoring.

Colton Institute were in scintillating form, notching a mammoth 418-4 against Green Lane at Nunroyd Park.

The majority of that score came from skipper Ian Philliskirk and ‘keeper Rhys Olbison, who hit 176 from just 104 deliveries, and 110 from 109 respectively in a 246-run partnership for the second wicket, with Brad Firn also hitting seven fours and six sixes on his way to a blistering 74 from 34 deliveries.

Despite four batters making over 30, including Phil Atkinson (53), the hosts could only manage 247-9 in reply, Jonathan Horner (5-58), Nick Thackray (3-60), and Tom Glover (1-56) sharing the wickets.

Horsforth were also steady with the bat, picking up just their second win of the season in a thrilling match at home to Olicanian, No. 8 Mitch Bunker’s 31 proving vital as they chased down the visitors’ 162 with just one wicket to spare.

Elsewhere, both Keighley sides suffered defeats on the road, with Adel thrashing Steeton by 168 runs, and Harden falling to a three-wicket defeat at Bardsey. REPORT BY: EMMA KENNEDY