Aire-Wharfe League: '˜Shaw climb off the bottom of the pile

The defending champions have endured a difficult start to the campaign and went into Saturday’s fixture bottom of the pile, however a four-wicket success on the road sees them climb one place in the standings and to within six points of safety.

Having won the toss and elected to field, visiting captain Ross Sedgley saw his bowlers restrict Pool to 218/8 in their 50 overs.

Cameron Bradley was the pick of the ‘Shaw attack with 3-35, while Chris Wademan (3-39) also impressed.

The men from Killinghall Road managed to keep up with the required run-rate in reply and they eventually made it over the line with 3.1 overs to spare.

Morrell emerged as the star of the show with 98, while Oli Hotchkiss also chipped in, striking 44 valuable runs.

Fourth-placed Follifoot lost ground on the sides at the top of the table when they went down by five wickets at Horsforth.

Yasar Ali (58) and Nick Robinson (51) both managed half-centuries for the Harrogate outfit in their first-innings total of 195 all out.

Patrick Nagel then got rid of three home batsmen as Horsforth responded, but the hosts were not to be denied and eased to 196/5 in the 44th over.

Bilton’s batsmen put them in a strong position at Burley-in-Wharfedale, racking up 255/9, but that total was not to prove enough to earn them victory.

Skipper Ryan Bradshaw led by example with a captain’s knock of 78 and he received more-than-useful support from David Hardcastle (50), Lewis Mallinson (36) and Amir Hussain (32).

The game went down to the penultimate over, but Burley just about had enough in the tank, reaching their target despite the efforts of Mustahsan Ali Shah (3-74).

Charlie Swallow shone once again as Collingham & Linton consolidated fourth spot in the second division standings with a comfortable win at Ben Rhydding.

He followed up last week’s 110 not out with a second successive century, this time hitting 115 in his team’s 250/3 declared at Leeds Modernians.

Toby Jacklin (46 not out) and Jonny Haslem also contributed before the visitors bowled their hosts out with only 144 on the board.

Jacklin completed a solid afternoon’s work by snapping up figures of 4-33 with ball in hand to round things off for Collingham.