Wood and Roebuck in double-century stand

IF the Sykes Cup second-round tie between Hoylandswaine and Kirkburton next Sunday produces half the batting quality witnessed in Saturday's league meeting there will be no complaints.

The match was staged at Kirkburton where home batsmen Matthew Wood and Charlie Roebuck revelled in a second-wicket partnership of 236, both men making centuries.

Former Yorkshire opener Wood maintained his excellent early season form with an undefeated 163, containing 22 fours and a six. Roebuck, the England Under-19 batsman, made 123, including 11 fours and five sixes, Kirkburton topping the 300 mark for the third time this season.

Anthony Marr, Liam Dickinson and John Ashton hit half-centuries in reply but Hoylandswaine were bowled out 85 runs short in the 48th over.

At Barkisland, Elland batsmen Ryan Robinson and James Thornton put on 221 for the sixth wicket in an 84-run victory. Robinson led the way with 145, Thornton contributing 112, Elland advancing from 97-5 to 332-7.

Honley had a poor season last year by their high standards but, apart from their Sykes Cup first-round defeat at Holmfirth, they have looked the part this time and they climbed above Hoylandswaine to lead the table after a four-wicket win against Shepley.

Opener Sarjinder Pal Singh made his second successive undefeated century for Shepley, who totalled 242-6, but Honley rose to the challenge, Max Joice and Martin Green making scores in the 70s and figuring in a fifth-wicket stand of 82.

In a tense finish at Golcar, Skelmanthorpe squeezed to a two-wicket win, Richard Cocking striking a winning boundary in the last over. Opener Sarfraz Ahmed hit 90 off 117 balls, his innings including 14 fours and a six. Leigh Kentish made 66 and took three wickets for Golcar and No 7 Eddie Wilson hit 58 off 45 balls.

Champions Scholes celebrated their first win at the expense of visitors Broad Oak, who lost by 167 runs despite a half-century from Richard Metcalfe and Romain Grenville's six-wicket haul. Ibrar Latif included 14 sixes and eight fours in his 144 for Scholes and Andy Alsop had a 5-38 return.