HOLMFIRTH stole a march on their promotion rivals with a fifth straight Conference win as only six games were completed in the Saturday's rain-ravaged League programme.

And it was a performance from a new `boy' and an `old boy' who provided the fireworks for the Holme Valley side at Kexborough and took them into a seven-point lead at the top of the Cedar Court Conference.

Javed Iqbal, in his first season at Holmfirth, after spells with Rastrick, Skelmanthorpe and Kirkheaton, put on 214 for the first wicket with one of the club's famous former servants Mike Bocarro.

Iqbal hit 12 fours and two sixes and carried his bat for 105, while Bocarro rolled back the years with a stunning 104, comprising 12 fours and three sixes before the innings was declared at 240-3 after 43 overs.

Javed Iqbal junior and Carl Jump then took three wickets each as Kexborough were bowled out for 108.

Almondbury gained their first win of the season as they beat 10-man Clayton West with a big contribution from Shrivat Khenwar who hit 10 fours in a knock of 71, well-supported by Dave Swan (51no) to steer the Fernsiders to 176-5.

Simon Kay picked up three for 60 from 21 overs, while Khenwar added a couple of wickets as Clayton were sent back for 143.

Martin Kyle made an unbeaten 59 and Liam Morris 30 not out to seal a nine-wicket win for Marsden, after Ian Bray and Nicky Clee had each taken three Thongsbridge wickets in a 32-overs-a-side game.

In the Frank Platt Conference, Keith Perumal made an unbeaten 74 after Jonny Bishop's 47 to lift Kirkheaton to a seven-wicket win over Linthwaite, who had earlier been dismissed for 150, Luke Webster claiming four for 48.

Meanwhile, the only other game in that Conference to finish was at Armitage Bridge, which was the scene of the first tie of the season.

Fourteen-year-old dAdil Kaleem bagged five for 65 for the Bridge while Faheem Hussain pouched four catches as Primrose Hill made 206-9.

Andy Hill replied with an unbeaten 75, backed up by Daniel Moorhouse (32) and Josh Hill (48), but with six needed off the last over, Hill, was only able to come up with five to tie the scores.

The only game to finish in the Premiership was at Micklehurst where Danny Hesford and Dennis Lonergan both hit half-centuries to steer their team to victory over Golcar.