Perfect delivery for Glover despite defeat

CRAIG Glover, Skelmanthorpe's medium pace bowler, had to dash from the field during Saturday's home Premiership match against Golcar because his partner Lisa had gone into labour in hospital as they awaited the arrival of a daughter.

Golcar won the match by 63 runs with Skelmanthorpe's 10 men only able to muster 121 in reply to 184-9. Leigh Kentish took the bowling honours for Golcar with 5-27 but Glover was not concerned after the arrival of 6lb Lily Isobel yesterday morning.

The battle between leaders Honley and second-placed Shepley was cut short by rain, with both teams taking two points, leaving Honley's seven-point advantage intact. Ritchie Howarth grabbed 5-73 and Tom Craddock 4-30 as hosts Shepley were bowled out for 192 in 49.2 on a green pitch.

Honley had reached 93-2 in 26 overs when play was called off with Max Joice and Michael Fraine at the wicket.

Broad Oak surprised Scholes by chalking up an eight-wicket victory for only their fourth league win of the season. The champions were ousted for 109 in 34 overs, Romain Grenville's accurate pace earning him a personal season's best 8-42. Steve Rushworth and James Howson had an opening stand of 50 in the successful reply.

Dhiraj Goswani took six wickets and made 37 for Barkisland but his side lost by 65 runs at Elland for whom captain Ryan Robinson made a vital 63 and leg-spinner Greg Buckley took 3-19.

Bottom of the table Holmfirth lost by seven wickets after Marsden bowled them out for 103, leg-spinner Ibrar Ul-Haq taking 3-3 in 3.1 overs. Marsden reached their target in 17 overs, Martin Kyle leading the way with 40 and Patrick Hartland making an undefeated 32. Chris Cowell took 3-30 in eight overs.

Third-placed Delph & Dobcross reached 76-3 before rain ended their reply to visitors Slaithwaite who totalled 210-8. Slaithwaite's Abdul Wahid top scored on 38.

Hoylandswaine's home encounter with Kirkburton was rained off. No 7 Callum Lee made a half-century in Hoylandswaine's 282-9 and Simon Chadburn made 45 not out.

Kirkburton opener Andrew Smith and No 3 Louis Aspeling hit half-centuries but rain won the day with them on 171-2.