TALENTED all-rounder Andrew Smith took centre stage as battling Kirkburton won a thriller at Scholes in the Drakes League Premiership programme.

The former White Rose player was the backbone of Burton’s 236-7 innings, falling just one short of a deserved ton, as he and Oliver Davidson (61) outshone their more illustrious Riley Lane batting colleagues.

And Smith then came on the fourth change bowler to scupper Scholes with five for 52, as the Chapelgaters were dismissed just four short of Kirkburton’s total after Tom Boorman (65) and Iqbal Khan (60) looked to have put the home side in the driving seat at 149-2 before the collapse.

League-leaders Delph had no problems at Broad Oak, where the home side were shot out for 68, Bilal Khiljee taking six for 24 before Faisal Butt (42no) led the winning reply, while at Honley, the champions took maximum points against struggling Slaithwaite.

Four wickets for Ritchie Howarth and three apiece from Harlon Haye and the returning Tom Craddock sent the visitors back for 157, Australian Chris Connors making his maiden half-century and Wajid Hussain 48.

Simon Kelly made 66 (13 fours and one six) and Richard Jakeman (30) and they put on 98 for the first wicket and Danny Howard finished the job off with an unbeaten 39.

Elland raced to an eight-wicket win over bottom club Barkisland, Dan Wood (75no) and brother Greg (59) leading the charge inside 23 overs to knock off Barkisland’s 164-5 tally of which Gary Colman made 57, while Hoylandswaine were in an even bigger hurry as they took fewer than 20 overs to overhaul Shelley’s 152 tally.

Michael Cranmer claimed five for 31 for the Haigh Lane side before Lliam Dickinson (66) and Joe Sayers (60no) were rarely troubled in the nine-wicket win.

Shepley made hard work of beating Marsden, who posted a 204-7 total thanks to Nicky Clee (61) and brother Danny Clee (38no) despite Craig Glover’s six for 76 return.

Tim Rees replied with a half-century, but it was Huw Ellis’s 47 and an unbeaten 23 from captain Danny Glover which led them to a one-wicket win with just two balls to spare.

And there was also a last-over win for Skelmanthorpe over visitors Golcar who made 228-9 (without captain Steve Whitwam), Michael Illingworth (50), Craig Horner (42) and 30-odds from Craig Ruscoe and James Howson.

Skelmanthorpe were in a spot of bother at 108-5, but Paul Roebuck (68no) and Pete Lombard (32no) were the Lidgett Lane side’s saviours, getting home with four balls in hand.

Clayton West have quickly moved up to joint top of the Championship (where four points cover the top six sides) after beating former leaders Holmfirth by seven wickets.

Daniel Del Prete continues to impress with the ball and claimed six for 58 and Tom Barber four for 23 as Holmfirth were bowled out for 187, Matt Gummerson making 51 and Chris Cowell 49.

Clayton captain Mark Firth then opened the batting (which is where he should be batting every week) and made an unbeaten 93, supported by Tom Barber (42) to see them home without too many problems.

Another six-wicket man was Lepton captain Steve Brown who proved too good for Almondbury who were bowled out for 121 chasing Highlanders’ 207-8, Mark Dixon having made 55, Luke Webster 49 and Brown 41, while Emley Clarence edged a one-wicket win over Meltham.

In the Conference, Armitage Bridge continue to race away from the rest, claiming their fifth outright win, this time against Cawthorne, who tumbled to 108 all out against Carl Jump (five for 34) and Rick Lunn (three for 26).

Earlier the title-hopefuls had topped 200 thanks to Hayden Jones (69), Paul Hamer (45) and Danny Moorhouse (41).

Thongsbridge made second place their own after skittling Rastrick for 77, Zafar Iqbal running through the home side with six for 39 and Ijaz Shah taking four for 33. Ben Raven-Hill (37no) and Oliver Webster (33no) sealed a 10-wicket win for the Miry Lane men.

Kirkheaton bagged a much-needed six-pointer when they dismissed Micklehurst for 207 in the 50th over, Johnny Forrester having made 66 for the visitors before Kamran Saleem (90) gave the Bankfield outfit some much-needed stability as they won with five wickets in hand.

Kirkheaton’s win lifted them into a share of bottom spot with Lascelles Hall who went down by 47 runs at Linthwaite, despite a seven-wicket haul from Danny Mulhall.

Imran Malik’s 51 was Linthwaite’s top run-getter, but the Hall’s reply folded to former Scholes seamer Asim Khan who matched Mulhall’s magnificent seven.