Captain Davies at his best as Otley eye prize

They moved a step closer with a comprehensive win over Steeton while second-placed Burley went down to a shock defeat at the hands of relegation-threatened Rawdon.

Otley captain James Davies produced a season-best 7-29 and with James Wilcock (3-30) skittled Steeton for 77, a total comfortably passed in 16.1 overs by Josh Atkinson (42no) and Jamie Pickering (27no).

Rawdon captain Andrew Doidge was their hero as they edged closer to safety while all but ending Burley’s title hopes.

He hit an unbeaten 40 and with Ryan Gladwin (41) helped his side to 176. He then picked up 4-58 and with Nathan Goldthorp taking 3-11, Burley fell for 152.

Eugene Burzler (88no), Matt Webb (74) and Dan Mason (52) looked to have given Kirkstall a winning position when they raced to 261-6 but Paul Cannings replied with an unbeaten 118 and put on 125 with Vic Craven (81) as Bilton got home with six wickets in hand.

There was also an unbeaten century from Ilkley’s Jonathan Hughes (124no) and with James Pearson weighing in with 55 not out, Ilkley set Guiseley a target of 235-4 but they did not come close against Nick Cockcroft (3-16) and Will Spivey (3-17).

Follifoot scraped home by three runs against Skipton and North Leeds beat Esholt and they are now the two favourites to secure promotion from Division Two after rivals Colton and Green Lane lost to Thackley and Knaresborough, respectively.

A narrow defeat by Adel confirmed Bolton Villas’ relegation and they will be replaced by Illingworth.