Schofield helps stun derby rivals

Sowerby beat their neighbours by three wickets to register their first maximum points success since last season’s middle section title triumph.

Martin Schofield is always their most likely match-winner and the slow bowler took seven for 55 to send visitors Bridge packing for 153 - the lowest score in the top section.

Tim Helliwell made 40 at the top of the order for Bridge, whose flying start to the season had been derailed by Warley the previous Saturday.

Bridge lost their fourth, fifth and sixth wickets with the total on 99 and never really recovered.

The outcome was far from a formality when Sam Mellor removed Ben Watkins and Dan Crosland without a run on the board but a 77-run stand between Gavin Clarke (43) and Ryan Brook (31) got Sowerby back on track.

Three quick wickets raised visiting hopes but Hayden Bruce (36) and Lyndon Baxter (22 no) sealed a much-needed success for the home side.

Runs flowed in the other five games and Jer Lane extended their lead at the top to six points by chasing down Thornton’s 268 for seven.

The pair had met at Lane in the Parish Cup the previous Sunday and the home side again just had the edge, winning with three balls to spare.

Mytholmroyd took the honours in the big Calder Valley derby, a 175-run opening stand between Tom Earle (105) and Steve Senior (84) helping them pass hosts Booth’s 257 for nine with five wickets to spare.

The pair now share third spot, 10 points behind Jer Lane.

Southowram are fifth after rattling up 307 for six at home to Triangle and then limiting their visitors to 243 for eight.

Bradshaw now prop up the division after a four-wicket loss at home to Warley.

Connor Ryan’s 77 helped the home side recover from 38 for four to reach 195 for eight.

There was some fairly wayward bowling in reply and Bradshaw were unable to remove opener John Rawson, whose 80 not out helped maintain Warley’s improved form.

James Clarke was among the runs again for Copley. He hit 86 and opener Toby Thorpe 80, the pair adding 131 for the second wicket at home to Blackley.

A total of 242 for four looked competitive but unfortunately they ran into Reece Jennison, who is finding form of a slow start to the season.

Jennison crashed 129 not out, including 10 sixes, and Dan Houldin (62) provided fine support as Blackley won by five wickets with a couple of overs to spare.

SBCI beat Queensbury by 34 runs in the top game in Division One, moving seven points clear of their rivals in second place after the pair had started level on points.

Middle order pair Chris Dalby (55) and Simon Wood (50) helped SBCI to 177 and only Tom Watson (56) got to grips with Ross Benson (five for 48) and Tom Wood (three for 29) as Queensbury replied with 143.

Leaders Oxenhope put the previous week’s hiccup against Luddenden Foot behind them with a win against Low Moor which wasn’t as comfortable as the five-wicket margin suggests.

Moor’s Andy Croasdell hit some impressive off drives on his way to 51 before being spectacularly caught by Lewis Hopkinson. Carl Harrison (40) helped the total to 150 for five with 11 overs to go but Liam Dyson (six for 85) cut a swathe through to the tail to leave the visitors 173 all out.

Oxenhope were 34 for three but under 17s Josh Ferguson (54) and Hopkinson (73 no) produced a match-winning century partnership.

After a cautious start from the pair, with some great running between the wickets to keep the score board ticking over, Hopkinson cut loose with some excellent stroke play.

Northowram Hedge Top were comfortable 59 run home winners over Clayton, who laboured to 185 for eight in reply to their hosts’ 244 for five.

Outlane’s top order batted solidly to get the 169 required for victory at Luddenden Foot.

The visitors had a late scare when Gareth Swain bowled a triple wicket maiden to leave Outlane on 154 for seven. An eighth wicket soon followed but Outlane scrambled home.

Earlier, Jason Cartlidge had been left stranded one short of a half-century for Foot, Gareth Hall (55) having reached that landmark in a patchy Foot batting display.

Cullingworth went from third to first in Division Two courtesy of the 12 points they collected from a 70-run hiome win over Old Town.

They overtook inactive Bridgeholme and Wibsey Park Chapel, who had to settle for eight points from a four wicket win away to Greetland.

Richard Elphee’s 77 helped Cullingworth to 261 for nine and Dave Robinson’s five for 56 wrapped up the visitors’ innings for 191.

Wibsey’s bowlers found it hard going at West Vale where Mark Horner’s 74 and Nassar Hussain’s 64 helped make Greetland favourites at tea, having racked up 248 for six.

However. the visitors were unfazed and a third wicket stand of 118 between Paul Artist (80) and Adam Beesley (66) put Wibsey on the road to success.

Denholme Clough were on the front foot from the start against Old Crossleyans and ran out 90-run winners.

Imran Aslam (49) and Imad Nasir (63) took the bull by the horns with a 116 opening stand to pave the way for a Clough total of 253 for seven.

The Broomfield men made 163 in reply with nobody able to hang around for too long, Richard Dixon’s 29 being the top contribution.