Yorkshire Leagues: Leaning and Woods lead way for York

The victory extended York’s lead to 16 points as closest challengers Harrogate and third-placed Yorkshire Academy slid to defeat at Barnsley and Doncaster Town, respectively.

Rain forced York to declare their innings at 223-5 after 48.2 overs with Leaning unbeaten on 99. Woods then took 7-50 in 19 overs as the Steelmen were sent back for 120 in 40.4 overs.

Harrogate lost by six runs at Barnsley, who batted first and were bowled out for 203 in 54.2 overs, junior medium-pacer Sam Davies taking 5-35. Steve Nuttall was Barnsley’s most successful batsman with a half-century. Harrogate collapsed from 139-3 to 164-9 before recovering to 197 all out.

Yorkshire Academy suffered only their second defeat of the season as Doncaster won by eight wickets. The Academy were dismissed for 108, James Stuart taking 3-15. Doncaster reached their target in 23 overs with Simon Widdup making an undefeated 64 off 67 balls.

Fourth-placed Driffield bounced back from a home defeat by Cleethorpes with an eight-wicket victory at Hull, who had half-century makers in Tom Appleyard and Dave Barrick. Opening batsman Abid Ali was Driffield’s match-winner with a splendid 96 containing 14 fours and four sixes.

Simon Guy hoisted his second century of the season in Sheffield Collegiate’s 73-run win at Castle-
ford. Guy hit eight fours and five sixes in a lusty 117 while Nick Gaywood reached 57 before retiring hurt.

A weakened Scarborough won by five runs at Sheffield United. They were dismissed for 193 with Darren Harland and Chris Grey completing half-centuries. Eighteen-year-old seamer Rory McInnes took 4-48 and wicket-keeper Shaun Johnson held four catches. Paul Cummins and Andy Heron replied with half-centuries but United struggled against Jack Holt, who took 5-39 in 14 overs, and the hosts reached 188-9 when the overs ran out.

Thornes collapse as Leaf and Rudge strike

WAKEFIELD Thornes’ hopes of lifting the Premier Division title were hit by a 66-run defeat at Carlton.

Chasing Carlton’s 161, which included 50 by Simon Stirling, Thornes were sent collapsing from 62-3 to 95 all out by Chris Leaf (6-49) and Jonathan Rudge (3-30).

Third-placed Thornes are 14 points adrift of leaders Townville, who trounced Batley by 121 runs, with Jack Hughes bagging 6-38 and South African Kyllin Vardhan hitting 60.

Birstall’s challenge ended with their third straight league defeat at Mirfield Parish Cavaliers.

David Winn smashed seven sixes in a sparkling 122 off 124 balls as Cavaliers piled up 301. In reply, Eric Austin (95) led Birstall to 189-3 before Chris Rodwell (6-55) dismissed them for 274.

Joe Ellis (7-19) produced the top flight’s best bowling performance of the day as champions Wrenthorpe halted their slide by defeating Hunslet Nelson.

A last-wicket stand of 51 between Will Stiff (37) and Derrick Hammill (9no) was in vain for Hunslet who were routed for 100, replying to Wrenthorpe’s 161-9.

Ossett improved their chances of avoiding relegation with a 60-run victory over winless bottom side Northowram Fields.

Syed Hashmi (73) and Khalid Bilal (50) put on 122 for the seventh wicket at Ossett recovered from 127-6 to post 257-8 and Khalid Usman (4-28) kept Northowram’s reply at 197-9.

Joe Duffy (46no) steered Division One leaders Scholes to a five-wicket win at Mirfield who were toppled for 122 by Aleem Ladak (4-32) and Mohammed Sharafat (3-31).

Scholes stay six points clear of closest rivals Wakefield St Michael’s, whose 188-run victory at Ossett featured a 139-run stand between Adam Fox (111) and John Bowett (71).

Liversedge and Hopton Mills maintained their promotion challenges by beating Oulton and Methley respectively.

Hopton Mills all-rounder Ashley Mackereth (6-23 and 62) was outstanding in his team’s 190-run victory.

Leaders are chased down by Jackson

Cleckheaton have never won the league title but they will fancy their chances of breaking their duck after scoring an impressive eight-wicket win over leaders Woodlands.

The result means that second-placed Cleckheaton are just 11 points adrift of Woodlands after chasing down 235-8 with 20 balls to spare.

Opener Tim Jackson masterminded the successful run chase with an unbeaten 127 and he was well supported by Ian Nicholson (83no) in an unbroken third-wicket stand of 173. Former Yorkshire opener Scott Richardson had earlier made 124 for Woodlands.

Young off-spinner Edward Walmsley took 7-29 as Pudsey Congs beat Hanging Heaton by 87 runs just six days after their dismal Priestley Cup defeat on the same ground when they were bowled out for 87.

Andrew Bairstow’s 86 helped Congs to 210-7 before dismissing Hanging Heaton for 123. David Stiff’s 49 was the top score.

Saltaire eased their relegation fears as they beat fellow strugglers Baildon by six wickets. Awais Ejaz took 7-39 as Baildon were bowled out for 132, then Khuram Shahzad (57) powered them to their target.

It means that last season’s Division Two champions Baildon join Morley, who were promoted with them, in the bottom two.

Morley’s batting woes continued as they were bowled out for 105 replying to East Bierley’s 115.

Spinners David Paynter (4-23) and Kashif Naveed (4-28) struck for Morley before captain Kez Ahmed took 5-25 for East Bierley.

Third-placed Pudsey St Lawrence were another team to use spin to good effect. Tom Hudson took 4-50 and Steve Watts (3-21) as they bowled out Lightcliffe for 147 to seal a 108-run win.

Callum Goldthorp made an unbeaten 87 and shared a second-wicket stand of 100 with Mark Robertshaw (63). A late flourish of 52 from Matthew Duce swelled the score to 255-5.

Bradford & Bingley were thwarted by the rain and resistance from Manningham Mills’s tail-ender Wasim Qasim (36no). The highlight was another century by Cumberland batsman Alex Atkinson, who made exactly 100.