SHELLEY earned their first win of the season on their return to the Premiership as most matches managed to beat the showers on Saturday.

Sarfraz Ahmed (54) notched his first half-century of the year, putting on 87 for the opening wicket with Kiwi Peter Drysdale (34) against visitors Broad Oak, while skipper Scott Dyson added 36 to hoist the home side towards the 200 mark.

And then Bilal Khalidd struck with five wickets as the Colne Valley outfit crumbled to 137 all out, giving the Westerley Lane men a welcome maximum.

The big game between the top two, Delph & Dobcross and Honley, ended with honours even as rain forced an early abandonment – probably much to Delph’s relief.

Simon Kelly (106) struck his first ton of the summer, which included 17 fours and four sixes in his 87-ball knock, while putting on 139 for the second wicket with Jonny Butterfield (25), before Max Joice added a quick unbeaten 53 and Harlon Haye 47 not out, Honley totalling a more than useful 257-5 off only 40 overs.

Ritchie Howarth then continued his great start with the ball taking five for 77, as Delph struggled to 191-7 with Bilal Khiljee (45no) the only recognised batsman left when rain brought an end in the 33rd over.

At the other end of the table, Slaithwaite looked on course for their first win in the League when they dismissed neighbours Marsden for just 123, Martin Kyle scoring 69 and Nicky Clee 39 and Ronan Bruce taking five for 34.

But with the exception of Wajid Hussain (48) the Hill Top batsmen folded like a pack of cards, Chris Kilner grabbing four for 28 to skittle the hosts for 114.

Golcar moved into second place with a convincing six-wicket win over Kirkburton, Lee Baxter carrying his bat for 60 as he and Steve Whitwam (40) are now starting to blossom as an opening partnership.

Craig Ruscoe gave Baxter further support with 36 as Golcar knocked off 154-4 with five overs in hand.

Earlier, Charlie Roebuck had made a half-century, only to fall to the next delivery after reaching 50, while Greg Buckley struck several lusty blows in reaching an unbeaten 52, Whitwam taking four Burton wickets.

Huw Ellis was the pick of Shepley’s star-studded batting line-up with 50 not out as the Marsh Laners made 216-7 against Skelmanthorpe, who were then rumbled for just 93 by their recently-departed bowler Craig Glover (five for 22), with only veteran Richard Cocking (32) batting at No9 showing any stomach for the scrap.

Elland lost their unbeaten record at Hoylandswaine, where the Haigh Lane side knocked off the 210-9 target for the loss of just three wickets, John Sadler (81) and Lliam Dickinson (65) laying the foundations with a stand of 122 before both fell to run outs.

Greg Finn (75) was the pick of Elland’s batters, with Nick Sharp weighing in with 49, while over at Barkisland Iqbal Khan (46no) and Tom Brook (30) did enough to see Scholes home by five wickets after Andy Alsop (four for 50) helped dismiss the home side for 130.

Holmfirth share top spot in the Frank Platt Championship following their 31-run win over Paddock.

Sam Denton is quickly turning out to be Holmfirth’s signing of the year after scoring another 65 runs and then taking four wickets in Paddock’s reply.

But he did have bags of support in the Holmfirth innings, with Chris Cowell making 40, Mohammed Usman 48 and skipper Matt Gummerson an unbeaten 33 in the 239-5 total.

Javaid Ahmed cracked 117 for Hall Bower, while Ray Bottomley (72no) and Chris Sykes (43no) hoisted Hall Bower up to 274-6 against Emley Clarence at the Welfare Ground.

Richard Haynes (70) and Allan Greenwood (44) replied with a 112-run opening stand, but no-one else could carry it on as Sykes picked up four for 33 to earn Bower maximum points.

Clayton West bagged their first win of the season with Tom Barber again to the fore.

The young former Skelmanthorpe batsman followed up last week’s 91 with an unbeaten 72, and again shared a match-winning stand with Kevin Rank (39no) to defeat Almondbury by four wickets.

In the Cedar Court Conference, Muhammad Saddiq almost ran through Kirkheaton with eight for 80, only skipper Jonny Bishop (75no) holding out at Rastrick, who took the points after Ateeq Rehman (54) and Saddiq (49no) led the Round Hillers to victory.

Lascelles Hall’s hero in their four-wicket over Cawthorne, was 15-year-old Timmy Taylor, who opened the Hall reply with an unbeaten 81, backed up by Scott Marsh (60) and Ben Robshaw (49), after Chris Walmsley (90) and Louis Skelly (64) had given the visitors something to bowl at.

Thongsbridge had Ben Raven-Hill (87) and Oliver Webster (42) to thank for their opening platform of 122 as they defeated Linthwaite, while leaders Armitage Bridge were very frustrated at Micklehurst, where the match never got under way!