Former Lightcliffe bowler Chris Greenwood’s nine-wicket haul for Barkisland ensured their safety in the Drakes League Premiership and relegated Marsden.

Greenwood plundered nine for 32 at Woodfield as Marsden were dismissed for just 63 before James Summerscales (31no) and Alex Kaye (29no) sealed a 10-wicket win.

While Marsden take the drop, Holmfirth now know a win against Barkisland on Saturday, the final programme of the season, will see them safe after crushing relegation rivals Hall Bower at Castle Hill.

Hardeep Singh got a half century as Holmfirth totalled 188-8 and then Abdul Ghafoor got to work with the ball, taking seven for 30 to reduce the Bower to 75 all out.

It means Hall Bower are now in the second relegation spot by two points behind Holmfirth and will go down unless they can beat Scholes at Chapelgate on the final day.

There was drama at Skelmanthorpe, where Zimbabwean Kevin Hook suffered a suspected broken ankle while fielding for Delph & Dobcross in their five-wicket defeat.

Hook had scored 26 in Delph’s all-out 179 – Arron Lilley hitting 81 and Alex Scholefield taking his tally for the season to 73 with five for 66 – but was injured fielding near the boundary edge and had to be taken to hospital.

The match was held up for around 15 minutes but Scholefield was undefeated on 54 as the home side reached 180-5.

Scholes’ Joe Carter hit his seventh consecutive half century and second successive ton – Louis Sykes making 91 – as they totalled 241-4 before rain hit at Shepley.

And Andrew Smith cracked a super 127 as Kirkburton piled up 374-4 to take six points at Hoylandswaine.

Greg Buckley weighed in with 93 not out and Gurman Randhawa 89 before Ryan Robinson replied with 115, but Swaine were all out for 299, Buckley and Tom Birkinshaw taking five wickets apiece.

In the other games, Golcar took six off Shelley while Elland were defeated at Honley, where left-arm spinner Tim Taylor collected six for 23.

While Marsden and one of Holmfirth or Hall Bower will go down, the battle to replace them alongside Frank Platt Championship winners Slaithwaite is intense.

Thongsbridge are in the one remaining promotion place after beating the champions at Miry Lane, where Zafar Iqbal claimed six for 38 to pin Slaithwaite to 105 all out in reply to 147.

Richard Marshall and Louis Aspeling both had half centuries for Thongsbridge, but they remain only four points ahead of both Meltham and Broad Oak – and none of the three promotion contenders play each other this coming Saturday, so anything is possible.

Thongsbridge visit Linthwaite knowing a win will guarantee a place in the Premiership, while Meltham host Cawthorne and Broad Oak visit Slaithwaite.

Vinod Minhas did the business for Meltham in their win against Clayton West, taking six for 43 and hitting 56 not out.

Tom McCreadie had an unbeaten half century in their easy home win against Linthwaite, Rhys Phillips taking four for 39 to reduce Linthwaite to 166 in reply to 203-6.

Relegated Lepton lost by eight wickets against Cawthorne in the other second-tier game.

In the Cedar Court Conference, all the promotion issues are now settled with Emley, Almondbury Wesleyans, Lascelles Hall and Armitage Bridge promoted alongside champions Moorlands.

Former Emley player Mirza Mobeen scored a century against his old club but he couldn’t prevent Almondbury suffering a two-wicket defeat at the Welfare Ground, where Richard Haynes’ side finish runners-up and will be playing in the 12-strong Championship next season.

Almondbury Wes ensured their first season in the Drakes finished with promotion by winning easily at Lascelles Hall.

Daniel Moorhouse hit a 50 in the Wes total of 157 before David Hales took five for 10 and Chris Sykes three for 35 to leave the Hall 46 all out.

The only century in the third tier went to Jony Asaduzzaman of Kirkheaton, who hit 108 as they totalled 237-7 to beat Moorlands by 28 runs.

Armitage Bridge suffered a five-wicket defeat to Paddock.