TOM DENTON may not have proved a big hit for Huddersfield Town, but he certainly hit the dizzy heights for Shepley with a magnificent season-high 186 against Hoylandswaine.

With both sides desperate to shake off the disappointment of losing in the midweek Sykes Cup quarter-finals, it was Shepley who grabbed the initiative thanks to a terrific opening stand of 280 between Denton and Sarjinder-Pal Singh, who for once played the supporting role with 105.

Denton’s superb knock included 18 fours and seven sixes and he caned Swaine’s eight-man bowling attack, who despite their excellent start to the season are now starting to learn what it’s like in the Drakes Premiership.

Shepley finally closed on 354-6 which was unlikely to be challenged, and Swaine departed for 201 (Singh adding three for 25 to matchday honours) with Liam Dickinson (64) and John Ashton (57) the pick of the visitors’ batting.

And that leaves Shepley still hard on the heels of League-leaders Honley, the two of them now starting to show a little daylight between themselves and the chasing pack.

After 11 games Honley are the only team in entire League with an unbeaten record, and last year’s champions Scholes were never going to make a dent in it after being hurried out for just 109, with none of their batsmen happy against leg-spinner Tom Craddock, who returned after missing last week’s game at Marsden with five for 24 from 11 overs.

Harlon Haye weighed in with three for 21, while Ibrar Latif was the top-scorer with 18.

Simon Kelly continued his great run of form (he has now notched four tons this season) and added another unbeaten half-century, while Max Joice (38) shared in a 95-run stand as Honley won by eight wickets in the 18th over.

Kelly is having a good season, but a man having an even better one is Wasim Jaffer, the Indian Test batsman caring out his SEVENTH century of the summer, taking him beyong 1,100 runs in League and Sykes Cup matches.

His latest (116no) came against third-placed Kirkburton, who had made a reasonable 218-8 at Lidgett Lane, Louis Aspeling’s 43 the best effort, although four other Burton batsmen got into the thirties but couldn’t go on.

Jaffer had support from Tim Sykes (21) and Qaiser Rashid (38) as Skelmanthorpe won by seven wickets.

Matt Norvall was a five-wicket performer as Delph & Dobcross beat Holmfirth by nine wickets, Bruce Cruse making an unbeaten 71, while Golcar and Elland are both on the move up the table after dire starts to the season, each club winning by 10 wickets.

Lee Baxter (76no) and Greg Finn (58no) did the business for Elland against beleaguered Broad Oak who were held to 139-9, James Thornton taking four for 30, while Steve Whitwam (66no) and James Sykes (44no) were too good for Slaithwaite who were bundled over for 123, Will Hinchliffe bagging a five for 45 haul and Adam France taking four for 30.

Marsden too are enjoying the first season back in the top flight, and claimed their fourth win of the campaign at Barkisland, where Chris Coleman hit an unbeaten 114 after Chris Kilner had taken five for 61 and Israr Ul-Haq four for 57 in the home side’s 182-9.

There’s no stopping Shelley in the Championship, and this week it was Almondbury’s turn to feel the force as Scott Marsh scored his first ton of the summer (140) and 20-year-old Joe Sykes (120) his second in a 238-run second wicket partnership.

Newly-transferred Ian Simon from Hoylandswaine then picked up five for 33 as Almondbury folded to 98 all out.

Kexborough stayed in touch with the leaders however, with Adam Wiles hitting 16 fours in his 77 not out and Mark Bray (54) leading the Bence Laners to victory at 177-4, chasing Hall Bower’s earlier 174-8.

Clayton West are also now hitting the straps after a shaky start to the year, and prize-winning batsman Greg Davies added another unbeaten 82 as they eased past Meltham’s 160-9 tally, in which Nick Sharpe claimed five for 55, while Lepton’s Dale Winterbottom had the day’s best bowling return with six for 48 in their nine-wicket win over Micklehurst, Alex Kemp (55no) and Ijaz Ullah (51) both making half-centuries.

Paddock and Emley Clarence continue to lead the way in the Conference, while Armitage Bridge are now up to third on the back of some solid performances from Jake DeAraugo, who made an unbeaten 65 in their five-wicket win over Kirkheaton, Danny Moorhouse having earlier cleaned out the middle order with four for 23, while DeAraugo, Jordan Williamson and Rick Lunn chipped in with two apiece in Kirkheaton’s 108 total.

Zahid Ahmed is having an excellent season for Paddock and added 90 to his tally against Thongsbridge, while Timmy Shah made 50 in the home side’s 219-8 total, despite a five-wicket return from Tom Raven-Hill.

Brother Ben Raven-Hill replied with 50 and tom 42, but they came up short as Steve Abbott bagged five for 64.

Jon Lee’s six for 55 saw Linthwaite dismissed for 136, Modessar Khan hitting 52 from No10, before Richard Haynes (42no) led the winning reply.

Richard Shaw made 78 for Lascelles Hall but finished on the losing side as Ateeq Rehman made 73 and then took five for 51 in Rastrick’s 43-run win.