STEETON’S remarkable run of form has continued in the Aire-Wharfe League Premier Division.

They looked doomed to a swift return to Division One when they only won one of their first 11 matches in the top flight, but, after their one-wicket victory at Saltaire, they have now won their last seven league matches to put themselves 26 points above a demotion place, albeit they are still third from bottom.

Saltaire were sent in at Roberts Park and made 135, which was a good recovery from 84-8, despite skipper Steve Pearson taking 5-36 and Ewan Johnston 3-33.

Steeton seemed set for a routine victory when they were 99-2 after tea, Max Harrison having been very much the junior partner with nine runs in a stand of 57 with Ben Hemsley.

However, 99-2 became 128-8 after Hemsley was the fifth man out at 116 having made 81 off 82 balls including 11 fours and three sixes.

It then needed the experience of Craig Walton (13no), who came in at 116-6 after the dismissal of Pearson, to guide Steeton to a one-wicket victory, No 11 Johnston facing only two balls in a tense finale.

In Division Two, Skipton were no match for visitors Thackley on Sunday, losing by 114 runs in a match that was re-arranged from earlier in the season.

Thackley made 241-4 from their allotted 35 overs, Gary Owens doing well to take 2-28 from 10 overs.

Skipton were then set a revised target of 231 from the same number of overs, but were dismissed for 116, with only opener Joe Birks (48 off 47 balls, including 10 fours) hanging around for long.

The day before, Skipton suffered their worst defeat of the campaign, bottom-of-the-table Rodley recording only their second win of 2024.

Rodley sent Skipton in and dismissed them for 91 inside 27 overs, with Owens making a defiant 39, Shahid Nadeem being the only other player in double figures with 15.

The hosts then won by eight wickets in the 28th over.