Treeton's Foster shines as Whitley suffer loss

Premier Division champions Treeton opened up a gap at the top of the section with their eight-wicket win at Barnsley, as rivals Whitley Hall, like Treeton, unbeaten in April and May, suffered their first defeat at Rotherham Phoenix.

Steve Foster, reckoned by many to be the finest all-rounder in the League, grabbed 4-31 as Barnsley put up a modest 147-9, then completed another fine day's work by cracking an unbeaten 100, with 23 fours and 2 sixes, in the Treeton reply of 148-2.

The Whitley attack never got on top of the Phoenix batting, in which former Oughtibridge star Johnny Younis slammed 129, including 18 fours and two sixes, in a 261-7 total. Whitley almost made it, their last wicket falling just eight runs short, Alex Welsh cracking 77 and Neil Longhurst (48), the match-winning Phoenix bowler Danesh Raheja (5-61).

Wickersley were off to a dreadful start at the Wath ground, being 22-5 before knocks of 38 by Andy Harrison and 37 from Rob Jones took them to a 156 total, of no avail as Wath, for whom former Elsecar ace Lesroy Weekes claimed 4-33, replied with 157-6, Ninesh Perera hitting a half-century and Rob Barlow (47). Relief at Elsecar, where the multiple champions got back to winning ways against Tickhill, dismissed for 164, Lee Bradshaw top bat with 65.

The Armroyd Laners, the most successful club in League history, eased to a welcome nine-wicket win, Jason Meadows hitting an unbeaten 70 and Ian Swallow (69).

Whiston set a challenging 267-6 at Houghton Main, Steve Taylor hammering 121, the hosts then falling for 200.

Opener Steve Secker hit 46, the successful away bowlers Asadullah Butt (5-44), and Taylor (3-57). Other game in the top flight saw Aston Hall make 208 and send back Hallam for 178.

There were two century-makers in the Division One clash between Doncaster Town and Rotherham Town, Felix Odell blasting 114 of Doncaster's 210-7, and Dave Mace cracking 100 in Rotherham's reply of 214-9.

The wooden spoon for lowest team score of the day went to Division Four side Houghton B, shot out for just 40 by Whiston teenager Steve Dawson (6-12).