MARSDEN will take their place in the Drakes Huddersfield League top flight next season after winning the Conference play-off at Scholes.

Facing Kexborough, Marsden set 178 with Peter Lombard top-scoring hitting nine fours in his 58, while Michael Jepps made life as difficult as he could with a five wicket return for 24 runs.

In reply Darren Donoghue gave Kexborough hope with four sixes in his quickfire 40, but Norman Clee (4-35) and Ian Bray (3-26) saw Marsden through to a 31-run victory.

MARSDEN v KEXBOROUGH

at Scholes

MARSDEN

S Butters c Shillito b Sondhi 10

Kyle b Potter6

Lombard B Geldart 58

Kilner B Geldart48

Farrell b Potter3

M Butters c Shillito b Jepps14

Hall b Jepps10

M Clee c and b Jepps5

D Clee b Jepps9

N Clee not out3

I Bray b Jepps0

Extras 13

Total (48.3 overs)178

Fall: 1-6 2-47 3-123 4-128 5-143 6-156 7-166 8-167 9-179

Bowling: Geldart 14-3-49-2, Potter 12-1-49-2, Jepps 10.3-1-24-5, Sondhi 12-0-45-1.

KEXBOROUGH

Jepps c M Butters b I Bray0

M Bray lbw b I Bray18

Wiles b I Bray6

Sondhi b N Clee32

Donoghue st M Butters b Lombard40

Potter b N Clee3

Burgess run out0

Shillito c S Butters b Lombard23

Hinchliffe lbw b N Clee1

Dales c Kilner b n Clee1

Geldart not out4

Extras14

Total (38.3 overs)147

Fall:1-11, 2-25, 3-42, 4-103, 5-109, 6-109, 7-121, 8-137, 9-137.

Bowling: I Bray 11-1-26-3, Kilner 7-1-24-0, Hall 6-0-27-0, N Clee 8.3-1-35-4, Lombard 6-1-24-2.