HONLEY all but ended Elland’s hopes of silverware this season, while Meltham were shot out for a League-low at Shelley as the Drakes League finally enjoyed two successive days of sunshine.

There weren’t many rays of light at Westerley Lane for Meltham however, as Ainsley Swallow’s side capitulated against Shelley where stand-in skipper Graeme Hurlbatt was in inspirational (and apparently unplayable) form.

The evergreen swing bowler conceded a single in his first over, and then sent down EIGHT successive maidens, while picking up four wickets to finish with four for 3 from 14 overs.

At the other end, Matt Friedlander captured four for 29, while ex-Melthamer Muthu Pushpakumara chipped in with a couple of wickets to send the visitors back for just 38!

Shelley then raced to victory in 8.4 overs by 4.10pm, Mohammed Ramzan hitting an unbeaten 25.

Meanwhile, in the ‘match-of-the-day’ at Hullen Edge, Honley beat Elland by 34 runs to maintain the pressure on League-leaders Skelmanthorpe, while at the same time virtually putting the hosts out of contention for the Premiership title.

Former Hullen Edger John Greaves (63) and Simon Kelly (32) gave Honley a solid start with 72 for the first wicket, while an unbeaten 36 from Harlon Haye steered the visitors to 181-8 after they had slumped to 125-5 at one stage.

Both Elland openers were adjudged leg before, and only Richard Blakey (42) of the top order managed to make headway against Ritchie Howarth (4-66) and Haye (5-34). Reece Jennison made a late unbeaten 30, but couldn’t prevent his side going down.

One side who are in grave danger of going down (into the Conference divisions) are Lascelles Hall, who are now three points behind fourth-bottom Micklehurst after losing their latest match at Golcar.

Craig Horner bagged five wickets for the Hall, but couldn’t stop Gary Colman crashing a season’s best unbeaten 76 as Golcar closed on 195-7.

In reply the visitors collapsed to 70-7, Steve Whitwam taking four for 35 from 21 overs, before Shaun Woodhams (48no) and Richard Shaw (32) staged a rescue act and ensured the Hall claimed a point with an 86-run stand for the eighth wicket.

Hall Bower and Emley Clarence produced the first Premiership tie of the season after Bilal Khilji’s seven for 39 had the Bower sent back for 108.

Darrell Sykes then took out Emley’s top four batsmen for 33, while Andrew Peaker claimed four for 6 from 5.3 overs, two of them in the 41st over to bowl Emley out for an identical 108.

Qaisar Abbass again showed his importance for Slaithwaite, as he claimed four for 48 from 20 overs at Shepley, who were restricted to 141-9.

And the former Pakistan Test player then scored 45 and partnered skipper Dave Dove (49no) in a crucial half-century stand as Slaithwaite did their cause no harm with an eight-wicket win.

Andy Alsop had a good day at Delph, but still finished as a loser with Scholes, who lost out by 32 runs.

The Scholes all-rounder claimed five for 70 as Delph rattled up 273-9 thanks to a century from Graeme Simpson (114) and a half-century from Iran Zahoor (53).

And Alsop was also the main contributor with the bat, making an unbeaten 68, backed up by Tom Weston’s 53, but the Chapelgaters were undone by the spin of Kamran Mirza, who passed the 50-League wicket barrier with seven for 79.

At the top of the table, Skelmanthorpe march on, beating Micklehurst by five wickets, Max Joice hit 62 and Scott Dysons 43 to overtake the visitors’ 206 tally.

There was no change in the Conferences either, as both leaders Holmfirth (Cedar Court) and Barkisland (Frank Platt) had relatively easy wins.

An unbeaten 93 from skipper Carl Jump steered Holmfirth to 262-5 against neighbouring Thongsbridge, before Javed Iqbal junior stepped in with six for 72 to halt the Miry Lane men, who finished on 155-7 in reply, despite a fighting 82 not out from SP Singh.

Meanwhile, in the other Conference Barkisland just topped 200 at Armitage Bridge, but then bowled out the host club for a mere 82 to cement their place at the top.