WITH just two matches of the Aire-Wharfe League season remaining, the race for the Division One title is going down to the wire.

All eyes were on the clash between leaders Rawdon and second-placed Otley at Larkfield Road, with the visitors coming out on top to close the gap to just ten points.

Once the impressive Damon Reeve (5-18) dismissed the big-hitting Ben Morley and James Dobson for ducks, it was an uphill struggle for the visitors, with late contributions from Tyler Willmott (46) and Nathan Goldthorp (37) seeing them finish on a below-par 165.

Otley found themselves 11-3 and then 32-4 in their reply, but Ollie Halliday (43) and Reeve (35 not out) saw them over the line with just nine balls remaining.

The battle is also still on for third place, with Saltaire’s 83-run win at home to basement boys Ilkley seeing them gain a narrow two-point advantage over Burley-in-Wharfedale, who could only manage five points at Horsforth Hall Park.

Awaise Hussain (74) and Muhammad Khurshid (130) contributed most of Salts’ 275-6 in a 174-run partnership for the first wicket, before Adbi-Hasan Ahmed (3-21) and spinner Mussawar Shah (3-33) took three wickets apiece as Ilkley were bowled out for 192.

Matt Hastings (79) was one of only four batters to make double figures for Burley, who managed just 191 after electing to bat, Ricky Halloran (4-36) and Joe Greaves (2-11) proving the most effective with the ball.

A 118-run partnership between Michael Loubser (89) and Tom Lester (58 no) then saw Hall Park to their target midway through the 29th over.

At the other end of the table, North Leeds opened up a nine-point gap between themselves and Beckwithshaw after an eight-wicket win at home to New Rover.

Rafiullah Khan (4-56) and Michael Shelton (3-51) led the way with the ball as the visitors were bowled out for 118, with Yash Pednekar (65 no) and skipper Taran Chana (32) helping Leeds chase down their target in just 25.1 overs.

The same couldn’t be said for Beckwithshaw, who fell to a 49-run defeat at Collingham & Linton, despite leaving themselves in with a shot after bowling the hosts out for 155.

However, Toby Jacklin (3-20) and Charlie Swallow (3-23) ensured wickets fell in clusters in Beckwithshaw’s reply of 106, Joe Holderness top-scoring with 43.

The only other match saw middle-order Jamie Bryant (51) and David Cummings (49) help Bilton to 225-9 before Luke Jarvis (4-38) and Sam Dale (3-29) saw visitors Addingham bowled out for a disappointing 123 in reply.

It’s all change at the top of Division Two, with Pool now leading the way after picking up maximum points with a 154-run thrashing of visitors Harden.

Krutik Patel (100), Cameron Duncan (82 no), and Charlie Bell (78) impressed in the hosts’ 308-7, with Patel (5-45) and Rob Goldthorp (4-27) sharing the wickets after tea as Harden could only manage half their target.

Green Lane notched a similarly high score at home to previous leaders Tong Park Esholt, with Arsaam Malik (124) and Muhammad Saeed (115 no) the standouts in their 300-9.

The absence of skipper Dave Hester proved costly for the visitors, Nadeem Safdar (6-56) taking control with the ball as they fell to 174 in response.

Third-placed Follifoot are also in the hunt for promotion after chasing down Olicanian’s 149 in 34 overs.

Despite Ed Whittingham making an unbeaten 97, Sam O’Sullivan’s career-best 7-46 helped Adel chase down 170 to earn a five-wicket win at home to Calverley, while Kris Parker (4-33) and Tom Glover (3-22) impressed in Colton Institute’s narrow 14-run win at already-relegated Horsforth.

Bardsey also enjoyed success, moving out of the bottom three after easing to a 10-wicket win at home to Steeton.

Middle-order Chris Wademan (44) was as good as it got for the visitors, with Waqas Rasheed (5-36) and Amjad Ali (4-53) cashing in to bowl them out for 167.

Wicketkeeper Tom Clayton and Naseem Aslam then each cracked 75 not out, with none of Steeton’s eight bowlers able to make inroads as the hosts reached their target in the 35th over.

REPORT BY: EMMA KENNEDY