Silsden have struggled to come to terms with life after relegation from Aire-Wharfe League Division One but may have turned a corner with a solid display at Illingworth that lifted them off the bottom of the table.

This, like so many of their games, ended in a draw but this time they picked up the lion’s share of the points, mainly thanks to an innings of 64 from Nathan Bradbury and a 4-65 spell from Corey Jacobs – the sixth time he has taken four or more wickets in nine starts.

After the early loss of Lee Bil-brough, Bradbury added 82 for the second wicket with Chris Barrett (33). Simon Cox (32) and Jacobs (20) then helped the score to 210.

Illingworth were looking good at 140-2 but Jacobs, having taken two wickets in his first spell, also took two wickets in his second, Anthony Darnbrook (3-12) contributing to Illingworth being restricted to 193-8.

Silsden moving up meant Calverley, also relegated last season, dropped to the bottom after they went down by 97 runs at Division Two leaders Bilton.

Hard on Bilton’s heels are Harden, who were too strong for Steeton, and the leading pair now have an eight-point gap to third-placed Follifoot.

Gary Boulton included 11 maidens in his 20-over spell of 5-30 as Harden were restricted to 166-9, Rob Verity’s 47 being the only score of note in the match, although Richard Wear made 28.

However, the Steeton batting also struggled against Philip Leng (4-29) and Richard Wear (3-34) and were bowled out for 108.

Aussie Grant McDonald top-scored with 25 at No 7, Neil Wilson hitting 24 at No 9 and Andy Luxton 22 at No 5 after Steeton had been reduced to 13-5.

Upper Wharfedale’s overseas player Cam Taylor made 79 in their 190-7 at Follifoot, Jake Starkey adding an unbeaten 50.

However, the hosts made light of their task, winning by eight wickets.

There were plenty of runs at Knaresborough, where an unbeaten 121 from Elias Karageorgiou and 84 not out from Jonathan Corcoran saw the home side set a target of 231-3.

But Tong Park Esholt were more than a match for them with Fawad Maqsood not out on 52 and Luke Waters smashing 24 fours and a six in his unbeaten 140 to clinch victory by nine wickets.

Olicanian’s challenge for honours has slipped away and they dropped four more points at Bolton Villas, unable to match the home side’s highest score of the season, 229-8 in which Steve Shuttleworth (71no) and Lee Margerison (61) led the way.

Skipton’s two-match winning run came to a halt in Division Three when they went down by six wickets against fourth-placed Colton at Sandylands.

Although Kevin Owens fell early, Steve Carling (44), Keir Nelson (30), Azhar Mahmood (28) and captain Rob Walker (18) set them on the road to a good total, only for Skipton to collapse to 155 all out, chiefly thanks to Andrew Scholes (6-34).

Skipton seemed very much in the hunt when they reduced Colton to 32-4, Andrew Fergie and Richard Walker taking two wickets apiece, only for skipper David Wright (69no) and Paul Horsey (54no) to add 125 unbroken to give Colton victory.