Yorkshire Leagues: Rowley hammers double ton as Sheffield Collegiate excel
Tom Rowley smashed 24 fours and nine sixes in a devastating innings of 216 off 141 balls as Sheffield Collegiate put down a marker in Yorkshire South Premier.
The big-hitting Australian shared a 234 first-wicket partnership with Dan Priestley (64), and Will Root (40no) and Matt Simpson (59no) blasted a 100 partnership off 36 balls to take Collegiate to 417-3, the highest innings score since the new league set-up started.


Sheffield & Phoenix were bowled out for 160 with Root and Priestley each picking up two cheap wickets.
Nicholas Smit (118no) and Matt Sheppard (50no) took Aston Hall to 274-5 but a century from Neil Longhurst helped Whitley Hall get home by two wickets.
Mark Cummins (71) and Shahj Younis (107no) put on 151 for the third wicket in Wickersley’s 248-6 but they lost out in a run chase, Harshall Vyas (116no) and Rob Day (42no) seeing Appleby Frodingham to a five-wicket win.
James Wolfenden (92) and Steve Morgan (5-53) starred as Wakefield Thornes got the defence of their title off to a winning start at Tickhill for whom Jordan Lowe (76) and Usman Muzaffar (5-81) stood out.
Muhammad Waheed (4-19) and Sam Drury (70) top scored in Treeton’s 236-7 before Steve Foster took 4-19 as Hallam were dismissed for 181.
Bill Kirby (73no) led Cleethorpes’ successful chase of Barnsley’s 141 total.
Pudsey St Lawrence started the defence of the Bradford League title with a win over Bradford & Bingley. Richie Lamb picked up 5-27 as the visitors were dismissed for 112 in reply to Saints’ 210-8. Charlie Best (61) top-scored for the hosts against his former club.
Half-centuries from Nick Connolly and Joe Fraser were the highlight of Hanging Heaton’s 257-6 against new boys Townville, who fell for 120.
Batley also found the step up tough, skittled for 90 by Chris Henry (5-49) and James Wainman, who included three victims in four balls in taking 5-40. Farsley eased home by seven wickets.
Former Yorkshire player Scott Richardson took 5-9 as Pudsey Congs slumped out for 88 in reply to Woodlands 153.
David Cummings (61) and James Middlebrook, with a sparkling 73, led the way in New Farnley’s 231 before Nick Walker (5-51) halted Cleckheaton at 209.
Alex Stead (92no) and Matthew Baxter (40no) steered Lightcliffe past East Bierley’s 238-9 in which Daanyaal Ahmed took 6-63.
In Yorkshire Premier North, Max Maciver’s 7-42 spell reduced Woodhouse Grange to 164 in reply to Stamford Bridge’s 249-8 which included a half-century from new boy Ryan McKendry.
Promoted Easingwold appeared to have Yorkshire Academy on the back foot but a ninth-wicket stand of 92 between Ben Ainsley, who carried his bat for an unbeaten 99, and James Logan (36no) set a target of 197-8. The home side could only manage 104.
There was a mighty tussle at Sheriff Hutton Bridge where Jonathan Tattersall (92) and Kellen Bond (83) set the tone in Harrogate’s 270-9. The home side put up a spirited response with Adam Fisher hitting 96 but they fell 34 short of victory.
Jack Leaning (52no) guided York to a nine-wicket at Driffield Town, while Tom Neal followed up a 4-31 spell with an unbeaten 30 as Acomb overhauled Hull’s 200 with three wickets to spare.
Ben Elvidge (67) and an unbeaten 54 from Jack Holt helped Scarborough take a one-wicket win at promoted Clifton Alliance, for whom Greg Drewery hit a half-century.
In the Huddersfield League, Gharib Nawaz (109) hit his second century in as many weeks and with S P Singh (75no) steered Hoylandswaine to an eight-wicket win over Skelmanthorpe.
Mosun Hussain hit a century in Delph & Dobcross’s 256 but they had some nervy moments before Honley were dismissed for 233 with Danny Howard making 97.
Steve Bullen (94) and James Lilley (5-17) starred as Aire Wharfe champions Beckwithshaw started with a win at Collingham, while South African Kiel van Vollenhoven made an instant impact in Bilton’s win over Colton, hitting 71 and taking 6-55.
Nick Brook took 6-38 and scored 80 not out as Burley cruised to a nine-wicket win at last season’s runners-up Otley.