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Wrenthorpe on the up and back in title hunt
ON-SONG Wrenthorpe are back on track for major honours in the Central Yorkshire League after recovering from a shaky spell.
Their season looked in danger of falling apart when Batley knocked them out of the Jack Hampshire Trophy and after they were languishing in eighth position in the Premier Division, 20 points behind leaders Methley.
However, Wrenthorpe have bounced back impressively by winning their last seven league matches and now trail Methley by just one point.
The Wakefield club also aim to become the first team since Ossett in 1980 to win the Heavy Woollen Cup for a third successive season.
They visit Bradford League side Woodlands in the semi-finals on Sunday.
Wrenthorpe's winning run continued on Saturday when they beat Mirfield Parish Cavaliers who have slipped to second bottom in the Premier Division after collecting just seven points from their last eight games.
Gary Fellows (36), David Paynter (29) and Tonito Willett (22no) guided Wrenthorpe to a six-wicket victory after Tom Glover (5-35) and Paynter (4-36) had routed Cavaliers for 146.
With just eight points separating the top five teams, the Premier Division title race is wide open.
Methley were favourites when they won their first eight matches but they have lost their big lead after three defeats in their last five games.
Skipper Ryan Bradshaw's battling 33 was in vain as Methley managed only 142-8, replying to third-placed Townville's 246-6 that included an unbeaten 70 by Peter Hepworth and 44 from Adam Walton.
Wakefield Thornes and champions Birstall maintained their title challenge.
All-rounder Tushar Saha (45 and 5-34) was Thornes' match-winner as they beat New Farnley by three wickets.
Steve Blackburn (67) and Nick Johnson (4-61 from 18 overs) were Farnley's best performers.
Former India Test batsman Vikram Rathour (108) and Rob McFarlane (69) shared a century stand as Birstall scored more than 300 runs for the second successive league game at Batley.
But Birstall were denied maximum points when Vipin Chourisya (92) and Tarik Patel (44) led Batley to 288-8 in reply.
Liversedge's South African all-rounder Johnny Hermitage (6-53) was again outstanding in a nine-wicket win over Altofts that also featured an unbroken century stand between Danny Broadbent (58no) and Azhar Chunara (51no).
Northowram Fields ended a 10-match losing run with their first league win since April.
Sam Brittain (54), Rob Larner (42) and Chris Thompson (4-70) gave them the edge against Ossett, whose 16-run defeat was hard on opener John Bowett (84).
Scholes climbed out of the bottom two for the first time this season when Arun Balasubramanian (103) and Matthew Barnes (77 and 4-29) led them to a 116-run victory over East Ardsley.
Wakefield St Michael's regained top spot in Division One by inflicting title rivals Carlton's first league defeat since the opening day.
Mick Carroll (3-58), Richard Atkinson (2-36), Muhammed Asif (2-14) and Adam Fox (2-10) toppled Carlton for 128 and Atkinson then hammered an unbeaten half-century as St Michael's knocked off the runs for the loss of two wickets.
David Horsfall and Naveed Bhatti both struck half centuries as third-placed Buttershaw St Paul's revived their challenge by beating lowly Gildersome.
Hunslet Nelson climbed to fourth with their third straight victory.
Sohail Raz (5-30) and Derrick Hammill (4-35) skittled Woodkirk for 132 after Tommy Roy (63) and Joe Smith (47) had steered Hunslet to 208.
Andy Fortis (69no) and Kierran Voelkl (50) shared an opening 120-run partnership as Moorlands beat East Leeds by nine wickets.
Hopton Mills continued their revival with their fourth successive win when opener Chris Scott (83), Gary Senior (46) and Andy Moorhouse (45) guided them to a 94-run success at Birstall A.
Mick Carroll (3-58), Richard Atkinson (2-36), Muhammed Asif (2-14) and Adam Fox (2-10) toppled Carlton for 128 and Atkinson then hammered an unbeaten half-century as St Michael’s knocked off the runs for the loss of two wickets.
David Horsfall and Naveed Bhatti both struck half centuries as third-placed Buttershaw St Paul’s revived their challenge by beating lowly Gildersome.
Hunslet Nelson climbed to fourth with their third straight victory.
Sohail Raz (5-30) and Derrick Hammill (4-35) skittled Woodkirk for 132 after Tommy Roy (63) and Joe Smith (47) had steered Hunslet to 208.
Andy Fortis (69no) and Kierran Voelkl (50) shared an opening 120-run partnership as Moorlands beat East Leeds by nine wickets.
Hopton Mills continued their revival with their fourth successive win when opener Chris Scott (83), Gary Senior (46) and Andy Moorhouse (45) guided them to a 94-run success at Birstall A.
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Friday 25 May 2012
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