Aire-Wharfe League: Otley find '˜best form' to see off Horsforth

Otley produced their 'best performance of the season' according to captain James Davies as they saw off Horsforth in Airedale and Wharfedale Divison One.
Waddilove Cup action from Kirkstall Educational v Otley. PIC: Steve RidingWaddilove Cup action from Kirkstall Educational v Otley. PIC: Steve Riding
Waddilove Cup action from Kirkstall Educational v Otley. PIC: Steve Riding

First division sides were in action in both the league and Waddilove Cup over the weekend. And it proved to be a great weekend for Otley as they beat fellow high fliers Horsforth in the league and progressed to the quarter-finals of the Waddilove Cup with a win over Kirkstall Educational.

A fine batting performance from skipper Davies, who scored 105-runs from just 107-balls, helped Otley reach 288-9 from their 50 overs. In response Horsforth made 204 all out with Ricky Halloran taking 5-55. The result means that Otley leapfrog Horsforth to move up to second in the league.

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In the Waddilove Cup, Otley defeated Kirkstall to reach the last eight and the two sides will meet again in the league in their next games.

“We want to win everything we’re playing for (this season),” said Davies. “We want to win the league and the cup, but obviously there are some very strong teams in the division. Beckwithshaw, Bilton and Horsforth are all very strong this year, so we know we’ll have to be at our best to beat them.

“So far this season we’ve played fairly well. We’ve played good in patches, we had a disappointing result when we lost to Rawdon, but besides that we’ve won every game.

“We play Beckwithshaw in a couple of weeks so, hopefully, we can put in a good performance and continue to move up the league.”

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Elsewhere in Division One, Beckwithshaw suffered their first league loss of the season as they were edged out by just one wicket by Burley-in-Wharfedale.

The league leaders posted a total of 185 all out with Burley’s Shane Etherington taking 6-29. In response Burley just clinched victory with Nicholas Brook’s 88 not out proving crucial in giving Burley the win.

North Leeds kept up their good run of form as they beat bottom-side Kirkstall Educational by 64-runs. After posting 179-9 from their allotted overs North Leeds produced a fine bowling performance to restrict Kirkstall to 115 all out with Larry Audain being the pick of the bowlers with 4-29.

Steeton moved out of the relegation zone with a five-wicket win over Pool despite the visitors setting a decent total of 220.

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Kuda Sumanderu’s 112 helped Rawdon post an impressive total of 282-7 which proved to be too much for visitors Collingham who batted out their overs to reach 182-8.

Ilkley clinched a four-wicket victory over Bilton as Nick Cockcroft led with both bat and ball to give Ilkley 19 points.

The Waddilove Cup was in action on Sunday as sides met in the last 16. There will be three Division Three sides in the quarter-finals as Tong Park Esholt, Menston and Green Lane all made progress.

Green Lane’s four-wicket win over first division side Ilkley may well have been the performance of the day. There are no sides from Division Two in the last eight as both Adel and Addingham fell on Sunday.

The other five slots in the quarters will be taken up by first division sides with Beckwithshaw, Burley, Rawdon and North Leeds joining Otley in winning on Sunday.