THERE were runs galore on another sun-soaked weekend across the Aire-Wharfe League, not least for Division One top-scorers Rawdon and their newly-elected captain Ben Morley.

The opener was once again in scintillating form with the bat, hitting 117 from just 62 balls to help his side post a mammoth 300 at home to North Leeds.

The visitors then recovered to 100 in reply, having earlier been 11-6 after a devastating spell from Nathan Goldthorp (5-29) and overseas Tyler Willmott (2-21).

Otley joined Rawdon on 40 points after cruising past a Horsforth Hall Park side that never really got going, with wicketkeeper Alex Atkinson (89 no) helping them reach their target of 128 midway through the 24th over.

Charlie Swallow (59) and Toby Jacklin (7-28) were the standouts as Collingham & Linton continued their strong start to the season with an 83-run win at home to Bilton, while Nicholas Brook’s 105 saw Burley-in-Wharfedale post 230-9 to claim their first win of the season at Addingham.

Reigning champions Saltaire also recorded their first victory of the campaign, building on a 99-run partnership between openers Muhammad Khurshid (49) and Bilal Hamid (46) to beat New Rover by 21 runs.

Elsewhere, Alex Bailey (62) helped Ilkley post 123 at Beckwithshaw, a total that they narrowly defended after a lower-order collapse that saw the hosts lose their final five wickets for just eight runs.

Krutik Patel was in fine form for Pool, taking 3-53 before scoring an unbeaten century to help his side move to the Division Two summit with a six-wicket win at Bardsey.

Wickets had fallen at regular intervals for the hosts until a 72-run partnership between middle-order Sadaqat Zaman (60) and Harwood Williams (36) steadied the ship to leave them on 243, a total that the title favourites knocked off with three overs to spare.

Follifoot are hot on their heels in second after beating Tong Park Esholt, all-rounder Yasar Ali top-scoring with 61 before taking 5-74 to bowl the hosts out for 56 runs short of their 296 target.

Despite a winning return to the division last weekend, Harden could not repeat the trick at home to Colton Institute, with the visitors making a staggering 353-6 from their 50 overs.

Openers Rhys Olbison (141) and Liam Mostert (111) racked up over two-thirds of those before both falling victim to Matthew Hogg, but despite top-order Will Grace (60) and skipper Andy Wear (49) leaving the hosts in with a shot, they could only manage 231 in reply.

Dave Healey (73) formed fifty partnerships with captain Harry Smallwood (27) and wicketkeeper James Skingle (18) to help Olicanian to victory against Steeton at Summerhill Lane, while Nadeem Safdar (6-5) cleaned up with the ball as Green Lane claimed their first win of the season at Adel.

The only other match in the division saw Horsforth extend their winless run to 26 matches, with Harry Jeavons (34) one of only three batters to make double figures as they struggled to 118, a total Calverley reached with over half their overs to spare.

In Division 3, much-fancied Thackley made light work of Skipton, needing just 7.3 overs to chase down 59 following excellent work from Safwatt Shehzad (4-6) before the interval.

Kirkstall Educational also made it two wins from two at home to Menston, Muhammad Ibtesam Ul Haq (81 no) cancelling out Adeel Nazir’s 88 in the first innings to help the hosts reach their target of 218 for the loss of just one wicket.

Harry Naylor (5-27) starred with the ball before openers Rob Butterfield (57 no) and James Davey (48 no) helped Guiseley to a 10-wicket win at Alwoodley, while Leeds Modernians recorded a 157-run win at Old Leodiensians after man of the match Siddhant Gola (66) and Dan Kastelik (56) both performed with the bat.

Elsewhere, North Leeds 2nds and Bolton Villas were also victorious against Ilkley and Rawdon 2nds respectively, with Charlie Sutton, Henry Scanlan, Andrew Rhodes, Andy Wheeler, Bilal Ahmed, and Hazrat Khan all scoring over 50.   REPORT BY: EMMA KENNEDY