Driffield enjoying place in the sun

While three of their rivals – Hull, Sheffield Collegiate and champions York – have had their last three games rained off, Driffield have played on and they won by six wickets at Cleethorpes on Saturday to climb into fourth place.

Once again, Aamir Sajjad was Driffield’s most impressive batsman with an undefeated 87 off 108 balls, his innings containing nine fours and two sixes.

The Pakistan A batsman, who has hit four centuries this season, shared a third-wicket partnership of 103 with Ben Cadmore, who finished with 39.

Cleethorpes, who were put in to bat, totalled 162-6 in their 55 overs, Charlie Tomlinson going in at No 5 and scoring 45 on his return to the side. Opener Bill Kirby made a patient 32 in 101 minutes and Nick Hardgrave took 3-46 in 16 overs for Driffield.

Second-placed Rotherham moved to within six points of leaders Harrogate, whose home fixture against York was one of the casualties of the weather. Rotherham defeated visitors Sheffield United by 74 runs, picking up six points as Sheffield’s last-wicket pair refused to be parted.

Put in to bat, Rotherham declared at 188-7 in the 46th over. Captain James Moorehouse and Gurman Randhawa had an opening stand worth 67, Moorhouse suffering a run-out just one short of his 50. Young medium pacer Tom Bolland had an impressive 4-21 in 4.3 overs.

Rotherham seamer Archie Odgen took three wickets and ran out James Martin as United were restricted to 114-9, opener Mark Cummins top-scoring with 29.

Doncaster made bold attempts to stage their derby against Barnsley at Town Fields but, after electing to bat and twice being interrupted by rain, they succumbed to the weather having reached 33 -0 in 19 overs. Graham Cox and Felix Odell were left unbeaten on 14 and 12, respectively.

Barnsley, who began the day level on points with Rotherham, now trail them by three points.

Scholefield shines in Skelmanthorpe romp

Skelmanthorpe’s former Milnrow all-rounder Alex Scholefield spearheaded his side’s 10-wicket home win against Hall Bower as most Premiership clubs beat the weather.

Scholefield took four wickets in helping restrict the visitors to 120-8 in a match reduced to 25 overs. Scholefield then showed his ability with the bat, striking 13 fours and three sixes in a fine innings of 81 as he and fellow opener Louis Aspeling (40) carried their bats.

Elland squeezed home to a one-wicket win at Kirkburton where the home side struggled to 131 all out in 45 overs. Lorenzo Ingram took 5-45 in 15 overs for Elland, who passed Kirkburton’s total in the 36th over despite a splendid bowling performance of 6-34 in 13 overs from Ollie Davidson. Elland’s Niall Lockley was the game’s top scorer with 34.

Champions Honley lost by three wickets against Hoylandswaine, who have ambitions to finish in top spot. Second team regular Matthew Sykes top-scored with 37 for Honley and enjoyed a fifth-wicket stand of 73 with Max Joice, who made 35. Bandula Don and Amar Rashid took three wickets each for Hoylandswaine, who recovered from 21-3 after eight overs to reach their target in the 40th over.

John Sadler produced a captain’s innings of 67 not out, including seven boundaries, and Ben Potter struck four lusty sixes, including three in succession.

Greg Wood accounted for almost half of Shepley’s total of 123 against Golcar, who won by 18 runs. Wood’s 60 included five fours and three sixes. Steve Whitwam, who took 6-53 in 13.4 overs, and Will Hinchliffe (4-38 in 16 overs) did the damage. Sarjinder Pal Singh’s 7.4 overs for Shepley included four maidens as he took 3-18.

Marsden remain in trouble after a seven-wicket defeat at Delph & Dobcross. Chris Coleman had the consolation of being the game’s top scorer with 69, Bruce Cruse hitting 62 for Delph.

Shelley had four balls to spare in a two-wicket home win over Scholes, Safraz Ahmed making an unbeaten half-century and Sam Scott taking five wickets.

Saints steal a march after Watts spins in

The wet weather decimated the Bradford League programme with just one game surviving.

In a season that started two weeks late due to bad weather, it means there have already been 13 abandoned rounds in Division One compared with none last year.

There has not been a single ball bowled in Division Two for the past two weeks and that section has now had 14 rounds abandoned – compared with four in 2011 – since its first three rounds of fixtures were postponed in April due to rain and re-arranged for later in the season.

One team who found a glimmer of light among the depressing scene was Pudsey St Lawrence.

They recorded a six-wicket win over Saltaire at Roberts Park which enabled them to regain second place in Division One.

They climbed above East Bierley, whose home game with leaders Woodlands was washed out. It means St Lawrence are 28 points adrift of last season’s champions.

Saltaire, battling to avoid relegation, actually lost ground on those teams that did not play which was cruel luck after the hard work they put in to getting the game played.

Their return of four points meant they earned one less point than all the teams who did not play and gained five each. It leaves them third from bottom, six points ahead of Pudsey Congs and 11 in front of Undercliffe.

Saltaire were on the back foot from the moment St Lawrence captain Mark Robertshaw insertted them in conditions which favoured the bowlers.

New Durham recruit Oliver Ashford removed both openers cheaply as Saltaire were made to toil. Tabbi Bhatti grafted for an unbeaten 46 from 140 balls, but off-spinner Steve Watts (4-36) ensured Saltaire were held at 155-8.

St Lawrence openers Robertshaw and Adam Waite put together a first-wicket stand of 51 and Chris Marsden, who hit a last over six to win the Priestley Cup first round tie when the sides met at Roberts Park last month, steered his side home with 12 overs to spare. He finished 29 not out after sharing an unbroken fifth-wicket stand with former Nottinghamshire all-rounder Gareth Clough.