Upper Wharfedale not only showed their strength of character last weekend but also proved they can be Aire-Wharfe League Division Two promotion contenders.

Batting first against top-of-the-table Harden, Wharfedale were in deep trouble at 50-5.

In times past, the Greens would have crumbled but the 2010 version fear no-one.

Andrew Foulds and Stephen Pearson set about rebuilding the innings and, after ten watchful overs, the runs started to flow, with both players hitting some lovely strokes on both sides of the wicket.

With the duo about to reach top gear, Pearson was unlucky to be given out lbw to Harden’s star man Jeremy Batty for a well-made 38.

Foulds continued, however, and started a brutal assault, ably assisted by Dan Russell. The pair hit boundaries at will, taking Wharfedale to a competitive 209, with Foulds finishing on 89.

A strong Harden batting line-up was not prepared for the pace and accuracy of Pearson, who is fast becoming one of the league’s most feared bowlers, and he removed an opener early doors.

This brought Batty to the crease, and Wharfedale knew it was im-perative they got their man.

After a fired-up Pearson had worked Batty over, Wharfedale’s change bowling came to the fore.

Tom Baines trapped Batty in front, the first of his three wickets, and with Dave Daggett bamboozling the batsmen at the other end, the runs dried up for Harden.

Dan Parkinson was brought on to finish the job and he did so in style, picking up three quick wickets to leave Harden 50 runs short.

The win took the Greens to third prior to hosting Bolton Villas on Saturday.

Zafar Iqbal smashed a 57-ball 100 and lost five opposition balls in the process before taking 3-9.

Brothers Chris and Andy Luxton hit half-centuries as Steeton defeated third-placed Olicanian by four wickets but Silsden remain bottom after only picking up a point at Follifoot.

The double-header against Alwoodley provided Skipton’s first 12-point weekend of the season.

At Sandylands, the first team recorded a two-wicket win in what ended up being a tight game.

Winning the toss, Skipton captain Rob Walker inserted Alwoodley on what looked a fantastic wicket in the hope of pulling off a six-point Division Three win.

Geoff Weir and captain Adam Trunks eased themselves in nicely and the score had reached 50 in the 13th over when slow bowler Graham Summersgill was introduced, and it wasn’t long before he made the breakthough, having Weir leg before for 31.

Andrew Fergie then bowled his off-spin at the pavilion end and the screw was quickly tightened.

However, it took a while for the next wicket, which didn’t come until the 30th over when Trunks was lbw to Fergie at 114.

Kevin Owens took a low catch at silly mid-on the next ball to make it 114-3 and both spinners began to cut through the Alwoodley batting.

Three more wickets fell on 122 and then more on 124 and 128 as Alwoodley collapsed to 129 all out in just 40.5 overs, losing their last nine wickets in 10.5 overs.

Fergie finished with 12.5-3-38-6 and Summersgill 14-3-34-4, but Skipton’s innings didn’t start well, Summersgill being yorked for nought.

However, fellow opener Kevin Owens and youngster Keir Nelson began to attack, each hitting numerous boundaries before Nelson fell for a well-made 44.

Then Skipton stuttered.

Kevin Owens was out to a full toss for 46, and Rob Walker followed next ball, again leg before, to make it 96-4.

Ric Martin and Gary Owens both reached double figures before both were caught, and Andrew Facey and Richard Walker were at the crease with only 13 needed.

However, a mix-up left Richard Walker run out on 118, and Facey fell lbw on 123.

But Ji Mukherjee (2no) and Chris Kimberley (4no) scrambled the last few runs to secure a Skipton win with 20 overs remaining.

It proved an easier story for Skipton’s second team who completed a 168-run win over Alwoodley.