Title favourites sent crashing by Kilner

HONLEY'S lead over Shepley in the two-horse title race was cut to three points after Marsden sprang one of the shock results of the season.

The fourth-from-bottom side recorded only their sixth league win of the campaign in sentencing Honley to a first Premiership defeat. It looked bleak for visitors Marsden when they were sent back for 140 in the 47th over, leg-spinner Tom Craddock taking 4-33.

Then Chris Kilner got to work, taking 7-51 in 18.4 overs, to turn the game Marsden's way and they won by 38 runs as Honley were shot out for 102.

Scholes's last-wicket pair denied Shepley a full six points but the second-placed side were content to take five and put the pressure on Honley. Sarjinder Pal Singh was again among the runs for Shepley with 70 and captain Danny Glover took five wickets, including a hat-trick as he trapped Ibrar latif and Luke Bird leg-before and bowled Mark Floyd.

Holmfirth's future in the top flight looks increasingly perilous with just one league win to their name. They conceded 104 runs to Qaiser Rashid and 84 to the prolific Wasim Jaffer as Skelmanthorpe won by 82 runs at Lidgett Lane. Dominic Storey, 17, claimed seven wickets for the winners and Jaffer's runs total for the season is now 1,949.

Broad Oak could offer little resistance to Delph & Dobcross, who won by nine wickets after dismissing the visitors for 98. Right-arm medium pace bower Warren James took 7-27 in 14.3 overs and spinner Faisal Butt claimed 3-17.

Matt Steers had a six-wicket haul for Barkisland but they lost by 35 runs at home to Golcar for whom Steve Whitwam made 67 and took four wickets.

Elland completed a double over visitors Hoylandswaine, winning by four wickets despite a five-wicket return by Ben Potter and a half-century from Hoylandswaine captain Alex Morris.

Kirkburton, without a win since July 3, lost by seven wickets at Slaithwaite, for whom Ronan Bruce and Ibrar Younis took four wickets each.

Cedar Court Conference leaders Paddock lost to Lascelles Hall, Murphy Walwyn making 91 for Hall, while Frank Platt Championship front-runners Shelley went down by seven wickets at home to Hall Bower.