SHELF'S seven-wicket romp against Luddenden Foot, who were dismissed for 77, created a 16-point gap between the top five and the rest in the bottom division.
Shelf are at the foot of the leading bunch after Robert Ramsden (six for 34) and Dave Malon
ey (four for 37) routed Foot inside 24 overs. Only Tony Martin (31) and Jon Midgley (16) made double figures for the visitors
Andy Dimbleby (32 not out) and Chris Wolfenden (16 no) wrapped up Shelf's early finish.
Stones took nine points from their eight-wicket home win against Denholme Clough and lead the section by one point from Clayton, who banked the full 10 from an 81-run win at Queensbury.
A Clough side buoyed by a rare victory the previous week, over Augustinians, battled to reach 188 for nine with 41 from Mark Clayton and 46 from Ronnie Goldwater. However, third-wicket pair Ben Watkins (72 no) and Steve Heptinstall (63 no) enabled Stones to stroll to victory.
Clayton made good use of a firm, flat wicket at Old Guy Road, opener Amjad Ali making a run a ball 47 and Dean Smith 78 off 55 balls after the innings had threatened to stall.
An unbroken stand of 104 in 10 overs between Paul Ascough (47) and Gurdiv Singh (55) took the total to 287 and the declaration left Queensbury with 50 overs batting.
At 171 for three with 17 overs remaining Queensbury looked to have a chance but the dismissal of Nick Richardson for 72 heralded a collapse which saw the remaining seven wickets fall for 35 runs. Queensbury skipper James Myers was ninth out for a battling 49 but the day belonged to Clayton bowlers Steve Elphee and Sam Wilson who took nine wickets between them.
Outlane and Old Town maintained their pursuit of the top two with comfortable away wins.
Both bowled out their hosts for modest totals, M. Ali's six for 49 scuppering Old Town's hosts Wibsey Park Chapel for 123 and Outlane dismissing a 10-man Augustinians side for 116 with Anwat Shokat collecting another four wickets.
Points: Stones 93, Clayton 92, Outlane 81, Old Town 75, Shelf 73, Luddenden Foot 59, Wibsey Park Chapel 58, Queensbury 51, Denholme Clough 42, Stainland 41, Augustinians 39.
