THERE were a few surprise results, notably at Elland, Micklehurst and Scholes, as the Drakes League Second XI programme got under way.

League champions Honley came a cropper over at Richmond Hill, where Micklehurst made 216-9 before John Forrester’s five-wicket haul had the visitors back for 170.

Mohammed Zabhir top-scored with 74 as Primrose Hill made 174 at Hullen Edge, where the home side slumped to 97-7 before Chris Goulden (44) and skipper Stuart Fletcher (45) put on 70 and looked to be leading Elland to victory.

However, when they fell the home side came up five short of victory.

And it was a similar story at Scholes, where last season’s runners-up just failed to overhaul newly-promoted Kirkburton, for whom David Greaves (90) and Gary Eastwood (41), both ex-Shelley men put on 102 for the first wicket as they totalled 215-3.

Harry Bryson responded with 52 and Matt Boorman 43 not out, but they also finished five short.

Slaithwaite had an eight wicket win over Skelmanthorpe, while Howard Palmer (90) once again led the way in Meltham’s win over Broad Oak, while son Chris claimed four for 25.

Top score of the day came from Holmfirth’s Philip Birkhead who made 98 in their win over Shelley.

The highlight of the bowling performances came from Barkisland’s Daniel Sykes, who decimated nine-man Linthwaite by taking five wickets for no runs in just 4.3 overs.

His first over was a maiden, followed by three one-wicket maidens and then a double-wicket maiden to finish the visitors off for 32.

But even that wasn’t the lowest tally of the day – that dubious honour went to Lepton Highlanders who were skittled for 15 by Emley Clarence, Simon Lewis taking five for six and Appleyard four for eight.

Paul Rai marked his debut for Armitage Bridge with a five for 32 return, but it still wasn’t good enough to halt Kexborough, for whom Daniel Hunter scored 87 and took three for five from eight overs in a 47-run win.

DRAKES PREMIERSHIP TWO

Slaithwaite 156-2 (G Holroyd 56no, D Maguire 52, W Beardsell 44no) Skelmanthorpe 155-5 (P Redgwick 30no, P Roebuck 25).

Broad Oak 105 (B Brownson 32; C Palmer 4-25, G Gaunt 4-21) Meltham 191-4 (H Palmer 90, L Kenworthy 63).

Shelley 92 (T Jones 42; L Watmough 3-27, J Moore 3-16) Holmfirth 259-8 (P Birkhead 98, A Kamran 60, B Thornton 31; A Murfin 3-67).

Micklehurst 216-9 (B Whitwam 47, J Forrester 35, M Chomley 30, A Smith 30; R Mills 4-41) Honley 170 (D Brook 32, C Brown 33; J Forrester 5-25; B Whitwam 3-29).

Elland 175-8 (S Fletcher 45, C Goulden 44) Primrose Hill 179 (M Zubair 74; C Goulden 3-33; T Coles 3-13).

Scholes 211-9 (H Bryson 52, M Boorman 43no; S Jepson 3-45) Kirkburton 215-3 (D Greaves 90, G Eastwood 41, M Smith 40no).

Shepley 162-9 (I Parry 60, O Huntington 39, M Hall 27; A Moxon 3-34) Golcar 151-8 (Dave Woodhead, P Dobson 44no; J Moorby 3-54).

CEDAR COURT TWO

Delph & Dobcross 128-1 (P Lees 63no, N Horton 42no) Paddock 127-9 (I Ullah 35; W Jones 3-14, N Kenworthy 3-22).

Kexborough 154 (D Hunter 87; P Rai 5-32) Armitage Bridge 107 (D Hunter 3-5, J Holmes 3-17).

Barkisland 36-0 Linthwaite 32. Only 9 men (D Sykes 5-0).

Rastrick 118 (A Pearson 25; S Gray 4-42, M Hallas 5-18) Kirkheaton 149 (M Calvert 43, S Lockwood 47; L Pearson 3-14, T Knight 3-33).

FRANK PLATT TWO

Hall Bower 67 (S Longmore 3-15) Marsden 69-4 (G Akroyd 36).

Thongsbridge 121 (L Pogson 4-8, D Taylor 3-46) Lascelles Hall 182 (R Shaw 84, A Robshaw 42; K Malcolm 5-40, G Webster 3-30).

Almondbury 41 (S Thornhill 3-18, J Scott 3-10, P Oxley 3-11) Clayton West 42-3.

Lepton Highlanders 15 (Lewis 5-6, Appleyard 4-9) Emley Clarence 16-0.