Warley burst Bridge’s bubble

Sowerby Bridge’s flying start to the season in the Foster’s Halifax League came to an abrupt halt when they crashed by eight wickets at Warley yesterday.
Amjid Azam helped Warley sink Sowerby BridgeAmjid Azam helped Warley sink Sowerby Bridge
Amjid Azam helped Warley sink Sowerby Bridge

There was no sign of the problems to come when openers Tim Helliwell (17) and Sam Mellor (16) put on 34.

However, Bridge slumped to 41 for four and never really recovered, being all out for 108 with their last four wickets going down for the addition of one run.

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Amjin Azam again spearheaded the Warley attack with distinction, taking four for 38 off 17 overs.

Jake Dixon struck a couple of early blows to give Bridge encouragement with the ball but Nolan Bottomley (44 no) and Shazad Hassan (56 no) snuffed out their hopes with an unbroken stand of 97 runs.

Bridge took only one point and their 10 points lead at the top was wiped away in one fell swoop by champions Jer Lane, who made 220 for six to pick up 12 points at back-pedalling Triangle.

Booth are third after a maximum return from a trip to Blackley but their Calder Valley rivals Mytholmroyd lost ground with a home defeat by Southowram.

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Chris Shannon (61) and Richard Baigent (57) showed the way as Booth totalled 258 fox six on their return to the scene of last year’s Parish Cup final heartbreak against Jer Lane.

Blackley’s top order batted very solidly in reply with Tom Baxter (59) and Reece Jennison (43) helping them to 200 for three.

However, the pressure to score quickly led to them losing their last seven wickets for 11 runs with Booth’s eighth choice bowler Patrick Thomas claiming four for 16.

Former skipper Dave Townsend made a successful return to Mytholmroyd with Southowram, hitting 82 and putting on 168 with Dean Crossley (109) after the visitors had been 16 for three.

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The Rams finished with a healthy 272 for eight and Gavin Moody and Tom Belfield took seven wickets between them to limit ’Royd to 243 in reply.

At 10 for three their hopes of maximum batting points didn’t look too bright but wicketkeeper Jacob Travis’s 95 not out ensured they managed that.

Sowerby St Peters and Bradshaw continue to occupy the bottom two places after both were beaten again.

Sowerby lost by 51 runs at Thornton where Gareth Grogan’s six for 76 was in vain, Nik Hutchinson’s 73 helped the home side post what proven to be a winning 228 for eight.

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Josh Hutchinson removed Sowerby’s top three and Mark Clayton (six for 31) accounted for most of the rest.

Ian Hartley’s five for 43 helped Copley keep hosts Bradshaw in check, Connor Ryan top scoring with 48 in a total of 169 for nine.

Chris Dennison’s 81 helped Copley complete a six-wicket win.

Division One leaders Oxenhope suffered their first defeat of the season when losing by 31 runs at Luddenden Foot.

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All looked to be going to plan for the visitors as their quick bowlers dominated again. Ben Addison took three wickets but the star performer was Adam Bailey with six for 38.

Joel Cleary (30) and Jamie Hothershall(35) got the home side to 143 and Oxenhope were never in the hunt as Tom Hosker (four for 57) and Mark Richardson (four for 31) ran their ranks.

Last pair Lewis Hopkinson (38) and Duncan Tetley (16 not out) provided a sting in the tail but Oxenhope fell 31 short as they were dismissed for 112.

SBCI are only one point behind and would have gone top had they been able to take Northowram Hedge Top’s last wicket.

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James Sykes’s men had to settle for nine points after making 275 for six with 84 not out from Simon Wood and 56 from Matthew Scholefield.

Four-wicket Ollie Benson had the Rams on the ropes at 86 for seven but Keir Litjens (36 no) and James Fearnley (42) helped the home side finish on 172 for nine.

Queensbury had started the day second but they lost by four wickets at Low Moor and slipped to third.

Mark Stokes took three for 46 and followed up with 63 not out as Moor passed Queensbury’s 177 all out, Carl Harrison hitting 59 for the victors.

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Inactive Cullingworth lost the leadership of Division Two to Bridgeholme, who won by three wickets at Stones.

Nazakat Ali took six for 39 to limit the Ripponden side to 167, after they had been 122 for four.

The visitors from Eastwood looked in trouble at eight for three for 77 for six but Chris Kibble (59 no) and Mohammed Asif (41) compiled a match-turning partnership of 89.

Old Town bagged their first 12-pointer of the year with an exciting two-run win at home to Greetland.

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Old Town assured themselves of at least three batting points by reaching 180 and Ali Asghar and Adil Shah then took five wickets each with an Asghar caught and bowled sealing victory.

Matthew Jordan’s five for 11 off 11 overs helped send Old Crossleyans packing for 55 at Bradford Park Avenue and Harry Reynolds three for 16 in reply as insufficient as Wibsey Park Chapel won by six wickets.

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