Follioot celebrate Division One return on wet weekend

‘Foot produced their best performance of the season as they battered North Leeds by nine wickets on a wet afternoon. Having travelled to their rivals and lost the toss, ‘Foot’s bowlers performed with the ball to bowl the Leeds side out for just 121 in 38 overs.

Opening bowler Umer Yaqoob took three wickets but Ed Clayton was the pick of the attack with five wickets for 34 runs.

Stand-in captain Nick Robinson eased his merry men across the line with a composed half century, to win within 18 overs. Dave Wright’s men were relegated from Division One in 2013, but they have only twice in Division Two this season.

“My aim was to get the club back into that top division,” said Wright.

“Nick has been instrumental in getting us up too. I would like to thank him for his hard work.

“It’s a relief that we have finally done it but everybody is very pleased.

“There’s a lot of hard work that has gone in this season by all the players.

“It has been a team effort and we have all put our hands up when we have needed to.”

Meanwhile, Otley secured the Division One crown after the rain brought an early end to their clash at home to reigning champs Beckwithshaw.

The title clinchers totalled 224-7 on their home turf, before reducing third-placed Shaw to 103-4 when the rain arrived.

Bilton were teetering on defeat at home to Ilkley when the murky weather came to their rescue.

Ryan Nicholson’s men were struggling on 88-7 in response to Ilkley’s 187-7 when the match was abandoned.

Having already secured their status in the league for next season, Collingham’s late charge up the table continued with victory over Steeton.

Steeton declared at Harewood Lane after smashing 150-6 inside 25 overs. But Collingham reached the total with three wickets in hand to move into sixth spot.

In Division Two, Knaresborough’s clash at Bolton Villas was washed out without a ball being bowled.

Bardsey were cruelly denied a win in Division Three, as the rain arrived with them 11 runs shy of bettering New Rover’s 174-9, with four wickets left.

Fixtures and Tables

Div One: Rawdon v Beckwithshaw; Pool v Bilton; Collingham v Otley

Div Two: K’borough v Skipton; Follifoot v Harden

Div Three: Calverley v Bardsey

Reserve Div One: Beckwithshaw v Rawdon

Div Two: Harden v Follifoot; New Rover v Collingham; Woodhouse v Knaresborough; Bilton v Pool

Div Three: Bardsey v Upper Wharfedale

Division One P Pts

1 Otley (C) 21 269

2 Burley 21 236

3 Beckwithshaw 21 221

Ilkley 21 211

5 Bilton 21 210

6 Collingham 21 205

7 Steeton 21 189

8 Guiseley 21 188

9 Kirkstall* 21 183

10 Rawdon 20 177

11 Pool 21 162

12 Ben Rhydding 20 145

*Deducted 20 points for failing to fulfil a fixture

Division Two P Pts

1 Follifoot (C) 21 257

2 North Leeds 21 235

3 Green Lane 21 229

4 Colton 21 225

5 Adel 21 196

6 Knaresborough 21 185

7 Tong Park Esholt 21 184

8 Thackley 21 181

9 Skipton 21 177

10 Harden 21 177

11 Upper Wharfedale 21 163

12 Bolton Villas 21 120