Thackley edge it as Shires proves hero

Adel had looked sure to go down with Rawdon but a loss of form by Green Lane and this, Adel’s second victory in a row, saw them escape.

Mark Johnson (88) and Bryan Hall (51) took Adel to 198-8. Beckwithshaw were 24-0 when Shires struck three times in four balls on the way to taking 5-58 as the home side were dismissed for 103.

There was a bitter-sweet victory for Kirkstall over Thackley which took them level on points with their opponents but missing out on the title by virtue of having won fewer games.

Leon Harber hit 43 in Thackley’s 175, before Joe Gibson (39) and Jos Siddall (32), who had each taken three wickets, helped Kevin Bennett (48no) see Kirkstall to a victory that meant they had dropped only three points in the second half of the season.

In Division Two, Redmond Bolton (76) and Nick Smith (4-10) led Ben Rhydding to victory at North Leeds and with Steeton losing at Pool, Ben Rhydding grabbed the title a year after winning promotion from Division Three.

Calum Braddock (73) and John Goldthorp (55) were the main contributors to Pool’s 217-9 with John Best picking up 6-61. Steeton were bowled out for 152 with Shane McNamara making 48.

In Division Three, Ilkley, who have been third for the past two seasons, beat Alwoodley to claim the second promotion spot on the final day after Colton were beaten by Woodhouse.

In Division One, Dean Russ hit 57 as Guiseley beat Bilton, taking him past the 1,257 season total scored by Sussex county batsman Murray Goodwin when he was at Bilton in 1994 and thus becoming the third highest run-scorer in the league’s history.

Ryan Cooper smashed 82 not out in 65 balls to clinch a two-wicket win for Burley against Follifoot.

Knaresborough’s game against Bolton Villas was finally rained off, their 63-year-old stalwart, Mike Baxendall, who is threatening to retire from first team cricket, had already picked up three wickets to take him to 53 for the season.