Whitley take another step towards double BEN BAILEY SOUTH YORKSHIRE

Houghton were rushed out for 128, Tom Fletcher taking 3-18, before the Ecclesfield men went on to win by eight wickets.

Last season's champions Treeton, seven points in arrears of Whitley, skittled Tickhill for 74, Umaid Asif bagging 6-25, to win by six wickets.

Wath enjoyed a convincing home win over Hallam, reaching 212 with Archie Ogden cracking 79. The home wickets were shared by Jesse Hemingway (5-46) and Humphrey Emery (4-5) but Hallam failed with the bat, whipped out for 75 by Paul Wilkinson's 6-19 return.

Wickersley made the short trip to Rotherham Phoenix and held the hosts to 172-9, Jonhhy Younis making an unbeaten 113. Haidar Jahangir took 4-18 and then struck 71 not out which, coupled with a knock of 81 from Carl Tiler, took Wickersley to 173-2.

Barnsley, looking at relegation, did well to see off Whiston for 114, 15-year-old Tom Goldby-West claiming 4-4, and another junior, Jamie Green, taking 3-26.

Their good work was let down by frail batting, Barnsley falling for 105 against the attack of Steve Taylor (5-57) and Johan Bothma (4-30).

Elsecar's fine bowler Chathura Athukorala destroyed hosts Aston Hall with a deadly spell of 7-19 after the former champions had set a 209-9 challenge, Ainsley and father Ian Swallow hitting 41 and 39, respectively.

Best match of the day saw Wickersley B reach 251-6 against Rossington in Division Two, Daz Pugh cracking 66, Andy Harrison (62) and Mark Sissons (53). Rossington approached the target with knocks of 53 from Greg Mann, 43 from Pete Harvey and 40 by Pete Mawdsley, and needed six off the last ball of the game for victory. They got it, Andrew Gardiner taking his score to 64 not out with a mighty hit over the ropes.

One of the day's few century-makers was Whitley Hall seconds' Kevin Brown, with 131 in the runaway Division Two triumph over Sheffield United B, while one of the League's young lady players, Maltby teenager Naomi Twiss, took 3-37 in the Division Four game at Frecheville.