STEETON have made it three successive victories in the Aire-Wharfe League to breathe belief into their Premier Division relegation battle.

They hosted Otley, who did not capitalise on being 106-1 after winning the toss, finishing on 216-9 as overseas Tremaine Dowrich (3-76) and Ewan Johnston (4-23) triggered their decline.

Opener Dowrich then starred with the willow, putting them ahead of the curve by scoring 103 off just 68 balls, including 14 fours and four sixes, adding 147 for the second wicket with Ben Hemsley, whose 60 came off 79 balls and contained six fours and a six.

Even though Steeton slipped from 171-1 to 182-5, they still had plenty of time in hand and won by four wickets with almost 10 overs to spare.

Steeton are now just 11 points adrift of third-from-bottom Rawdon with eight matches left, but still might rue the 20 points that they have been docked for disciplinary issues.

Meanwhile, Skipton were involved in a thriller at home to Leeds Modernians in Division Three.

The home team’s top eight all reached double figures in their 215-8 after they opted to bat, with captain Gary Owens (45) and Robert Walker (40) leading the way, adding 47 for the fifth wicket.

However, Mods had partnerships of 58 and 54 but fell six runs short of victory after making 210-8, Steeton climbing one place to eighth on the back of the narrow win.