Watson helps Blackley shade thriller

Blackley, battling to move clear of the bottom two in the Premier, were struggling to post a par total at Moderna Way until number eight Watson came in and crashed five sixes in a knock of 72.

The visitors’ total of 229 looked likely to be inadequate when Zeb Mahmood (74), Luke Sutcliffe (45) and Wajid Ali (43) scored well towards the top of the ‘Royd order.

However, five-wicket David Peel made rapid inroads and Watson trapped last man Nathan Harris leg before with ‘Royd just a boundary from victory.

Bottom side Southowram had an eye-catching win at faltering Warley while Sowerby Bridge won by four wickets at Queensbury in another key match affecting the foot of the table.

The Rams racked up 311 for six, thanks to Dean Crossley (103 no) and double-figure contributions from all his teammates.

Warley were 88 for five against a modest visiting attack before Daniel Syme (58) and James Whitworth (49) kept Southowram waiting for what was eventually a 75-run win.

Jer Lane overcame a tricky hurdle in their bid for a third successive title with a three-wicket win at SBCI.

Tom Conway made life tricky for the leaders with 112, George Hampshire making 60 in a total of 255 for six.

Wayne Cotton led the reply with 116 and his 170-run third wicket stand with Raqeeb Younas (72) proved decisive, even though five-wicket Tom Wood caused some alarm in the visiting ranks.

Booth recovered well from the previous week’s 44 all out against SBCI, crushing visitors Copley by nine wickets to go second again.

Copley were 27 for three but got their score up to 176 with the help of a 93-run stand between Chris Dennison (59) and Nick Gomersall (33).

That proved inadequate, however, as nine bowlers tried and failed to dismiss Rob Laycock, who finished unbeaten on 107 after sharing an opening stand of 107 with Robert Worsnop (43).

League side players Josh Hutchinson and Christian Silkstone were the stars of the show in Thornton’s 23-run win at Triangle.

Hutchinson hit 82 and followed up with five for 66.

Silkstone took five for 44 and then added 68 with the bat but the 66s scored by Nikki Hutchinson and Mick Shanks helped give the visitors the edge in a 545-run contest.

Points (after 15 games): Jer Lane 140, Booth 127, Mytholmroyd 125, Thornton 123, SBCI 120, Copley 109, Triangle 106, Sowerby bridge 105, Blackley 102, Warley 101, Queensbury 87, Southowram 77.

Sowerby St Peter’s continued their title drive in Division One with an 86-run win at Stones.

They had their bowlers to thank at Ripponden, having only managed to post 189.

Oxenhope are still to host Northowram Hedge Top in two crucial contests in the battle for the second promotion spot.

The first is next Saturday and both will go into it in good heart after comfortable wins on the back of big totals.

Northowram have an eight-point lead over the rivals after continuing their run spree at home to Bradshaw.

Skipper Chris Conroy led the way with a 76-ball century, eventually falling for 122.

Adam Stocks (73) has also scored plenty of runs in 2015 and he helped the hosts pile up 360 for four.

Bradshaw replied with 221, left-hander Steve Beck being last man out to five-wicket Harry Talbot with his side’s top score of 51.

Oxenhope made 328 for nine at Bridgeholme with Liam Dyson (90no) showing the way.

It looked all over when Bridgeholme slumped to 41 for five but James Hudson (87) and Bobby Fielden (79) launched a counter-attack which fell 58 runs short.

Low Moor HT moved out of the bottom two with an eight-wicket win at fellow strugglers Luddenden Foot.

Foot made 232 for eight but Graham Scarborough (122 no) and Mark Stokes (74 no) added 160 in an unbroken stand to clinch success for Moor.

Points: Sowerby SP 153, Northowram HT 133, Oxenhope 125, Bridgeholme 108, Bradshaw 93, Low Moor 92, Stones 87, Luddenden Foot 83.

Great Horton Park Chapel have surged into a 16-point lead at the top of Division Two after crushing bottom side Greetland in a contest lasting only 20 overs.

Matthew Jordan recorded the sensational figures of eight wickets for 11 runs, Hussain Syed (two for 18) helping to ensure the visitors from West Vale were dismissed for 33.

Mushtaq Mahboob raised the only Greetland cheer of the afternoon when taking the one home wicket to fall.

Chapel’s good afternoon was made complete when second-placed Old Crossleyans managed only full bonus points in a surprise nine-run defeat at Denholme Clough.

Outlane are only two points behind the Broomfield men after Anwar Shaukatt took six for 26 off 13 overs to dismiss Cullingworth for 169.

That was in reply to Outlane’s 196, which was based on an opening stand of 86 between Colin Hemmingway (40) and Alex Blagborough (50).

Clayton went above Cullingworth following a five wicket win at home to Old Town.

Town were 18 for three before Sajid Mahmood (72 no) and Mohammed Jamil (54 no) lifted the total to 186 for four. Clayton batted solidly, however, to win with a couple of overs to spare.

Upper Hopton’s attack were thew latest to suffer at the hands of Shelf’s hard-hitting Leigh Butterfield. He hit 64 in a total of 252 and that proved just out of Hopton’s reach.

Points: Great Horton PC 144, Old Crossleyans 128, Outlane 126, Clayton 120, Cullingworth 119, Shelf 108, Denholme Clough 92, Upper Hopton 91, Old Town 83, Greetland 57.