Aire-Wharfe League: Lilley sets his sights on heaps of silverware

The Airedale and Wharfedale Division One pitted two unbeaten teams against each other on the third week of the season and it was Beckwithshaw who came out triumphant, beating Rawdon by 10 wickets.

It took the home side just 21 overs to reach the 139 target with John Inglis smashing 101 not out off just 72 balls. Captain Alex Lilley took 5-50 as Beckwithshaw moved up to second in the league.

But Lilley has called for focus from his side if they are to achieve their season goals: “We’re pleased with how we’re going at the moment, we’ve just got to stay on the ball now and not take stuff for granted – we’ve got a capable squad, we’ve just got to make sure we’re tense in all games.”

Elsewhere in Division One, Horsforth went top of the table as they kept up their winning start to the season, beating Bilton by eight wickets.

A 111-run partnership from Chris Gordon and Byron Boshoff made it a comfortable run chase for Horsforth as they met a 173 target.

Collingham and Pool were involved in a thriller as Collingham clinched a three-run victory. Collingham set Pool 275 to win thanks to a 107-run knock by Jack Harrison. In response Pool fell just short despite David Paynter scoring 125 off 110 balls.

North Leeds and Ilkley threw up a similar story as North Leeds recorded their first league win of the season as they won by just eight runs. A 105 score from Nick Cockroft made it a tense affair but in the end Ilkley didn’t quite have enough to chase down a 258 target.

Burley also picked up their first win of the season as they beat Kirkstall by 22-runs. Richard Brook finished on 96 not out whilst Shane Etherington stood out with the ball collecting figures of 4-32.

Otley responded to defeat last time out as they comfortably saw off Steeton by seven wickets with Steeton now having lost their three opening games.

The Waddilove Cup got underway on Sunday with all 32 teams in the competition in action.

The shock of the day came in the tie between Leeds Modernians and Collingham with the third division side defeating top-division Collingham by three wickets.

A second-wicket stand of 137, including a superb knock from Dwayne Heke scoring 103 from just 71 balls, helped the home side secure a 243-run chase.

Elsewhere, last season’s cup winners Bilton fell at the first hurdle as they were beaten by Division One champions Otley.

Otley put on a fine bowling display which included a 4-29 from Ricky Halloran to defend their 194-9 total. Green Lane rattled up the highest score of the round as they posted a score of 310-6 which saw them see off Skipton by 60-runs.

Second-division Knaresborough were upset by third-division Tong Park Esholt in a close affair which saw Esholt pull off a 13-run win.

Esholt will be joined by Kirkstall, Rawdon, Horsforth, Ilkley, North Leeds, Adel, Beckwithshaw, Menston, Addingham, Steeton and Thackley as they also all secured wins to book their places in the second round.