STEETON, who have had a chalk-and-cheese season in the Aire-Wharfe League Premier Division, could not finish off their campaign with a victory.

Having won only two of their first 11 league matches up to late July, they then won 10 straight until losing last Saturday at home to Pool.

From what looked like certain relegation - they also suffered a 20-point deduction for disciplinary misdemeanours - Steeton ended the season eighth and, without that penalty they would have been fourth.

Pool won the toss and batted, and their 220 was largely down to opener Logan Duval, who made 105, Steeton captain Steve Pearson (4-34) finishing off the tail after the visitors had been 174-4.

The hosts lost their first three wickets at 29, but were revived by stands of 48 between George Bell (26) and James Robinson (17) and 87 between Pearson (48) and Paul Quinlan (37no) before rain caused the match to be halted at 167-6 after 42 overs, Steeton losing on DLS.

However, Skipton ended their campaign on a high with an excellent one-wicket victory at third-placed Shadwell.

Overseas Zahid Nissar dominated Shadwell’s innings of 261 after they won the toss, with the opener scoring 155 off 136 balls, hitting 14 fours and eight sixes and being very much the main man in partnerships of 71 for the first wicket, 44 for the fourth and 41 for the sixth before being ninth out at 238.

Finlay Walker (3-50) and Gary Owens (2-57) took the first five wickets before Carl Tetley (4-47) wrapped up the tail.

Skipton’s openers made only one between them, but Luke Facey (41) and skipper Owens (97) put on 113 for the third wicket, with Owens facing just 65 balls and hitting 13 fours and three sixes before being fifth out at 178.

Robert Walker (38no off 43 deliveries) then shepherded the lower order as Skipton won in the 44th over thanks to an unbroken last-wicket stand of six, No 11 Tom Howells only having to face one ball.

Skipton climbed one place to ninth, passing Horsforth, as a result of their tense victory.