THE leading three clubs in the Frank Platt Championship all got a case of the promotion jitters as they ‘crashed and burned’ on the best day of the summer.
Leaders Holmfirth rolled over for 94 in a low-scoring affair at Armitage Bridge to lose by 16, while second-placed Thongsbridge also returned pointless from Barkisland as Darren Robinson’s side took over at the top.
Meanwhile at Lepton Highlanders, Broad Oak re-discovered their form to storm to a 103-run which consigned Armitage Bridge and Emley Clarence to relegation.
Holmfirth had only taken over top spot last week, following their stunning run of eight consecutive victories, and looked well set for number nine as Armitage Bridge collapsed to 62-6.
But the home side’s stand-out all-rounder Carl Jump made a crucial 38 which dragged his team to 110 all out, Sam Denton taking five for 45 and Mitchell Santner four for 57.
But the visitors’ batsmen never turned up as Rick Lunn took four for 37 and Jump three for 36 to rock Holmfirth’s high hopes.
There wasn’t much batting prowess in evidence either at Barkisland, where Sajid Rasheed’s 29 was Thongsbridge’s top score as they were sent back for 104, Charles Cocking taking four for 33 and Daniel Sykes three for 17.
Not that Barkisland were much better as they lost seven wickets in reaching their modest target, thanks to 33 from Callum Thompson.
Broad Oak second teamer Simon Peacock showed his first teamers how to do it with 39 in a 186-8 total before Rhys Phillips struck with four for 40 as Lepton were bowled out for 83, which probably rules them out of the title chase – unless they win at Holmfirth next week.
Emley saved their best till last with a massive win over Meltham, Simon Sykes (73), Atif Kamran (60) and Allan Greenwood (59) all getting among the runs in a 247-7 tally.
Mirza Mobeen then struck with seven for 44 as the visitors tumbled to 85 all out.
Linthwaite confirmed their promotion to the Championship with an eight-wicket win at Almondbury, to ensure a runners-up spot to Cawthorne in the Cedar Court Conference.
Wasim Ullah and Asam Raza each took four wickets to dismiss Almondbury for 105, before Mohammed Ihsan hit an unbeaten 58 to give the Manchester Road side something to celebrate.
Kirkheaton who have been pushing Linthwaite hard all season, also took maximum points at Cumberworth, but they can now longer catch their rivals.
Kamran Saleem had the terrific figures of eight for 23 to bowl out Cumberworth for 106 after Mohammed Siddiq (69) and Jonny Bishop (33) had led Kirkheaton to 183.
Top score of the day, both individually and collectively, came at Skelmanthorpe, where Golcar’s Australian Adam Chalkley showed what he is capable of, albeit a little belatedly, when he smashed 135 off the Lidgett Lane attack.
And with Lee Baxter weighing in with 68 (his best knock of the year) Golcar finished on a hefty 295-7.
However, it still wasn’t enough as Alex Scholefield scored his second century of the season, backed up by James Dollive scoring 58, to seal a three-wicket win for Skelmanthorpe.
League champions Hoylandswaine beat Clayton West by seven wickets, while Elland and Kirkburton remained locked together in second spot after both took six points from their games against Hall Bower and Scholes respectively.
Non-EU Player of the Year Lorenzo Ingram fell just 13 short of what would have been his second ton of the summer, while Paul Winrow made an unbeaten 66, before Ibrar Younas claimed five Bower wickets in a 42-run win for Elland.
Oliver Davidson was another batsman to perish within sight of a century as he fell for 85 in Burton’s home game with Scholes as the home side made 220 before dismissing Scholes for 184, Ryan Robinson bagging five for 44 and Davidson four for 74.
Chris Kilner hit Honley with a seven-wicket haul to pile further misery on a poor season for the former League champions before Joe Smith scored a half-century in Marsden’s eight-wicket win while Delph & Dobcross saw off Shepley once again and Shelley beat relegated Slaithwaite by five wickets, Greg Wadsworth making an unbeaten 59.
