INCLUDING their Waddilove Cup semi-final victory over Otley, who they meet in the Aire-Wharfe League at Summerhill Lane this coming Saturday, Steeton have had a good July.

They have won four of their five completed matches, and made it back-to-back Premier Division victories last weekend in comprehensive fashion at Adel.

Steve Pearson’s side were sent in and made Tom Harrison pay for that decision by scoring 291-7.

Openers Tremaine Dowrich and Luke Chapman put on 67, and then the former added 135 for the second wicket with Ben Hemsley, who finished on 100 not out.

The latter faced 123 balls for his unbeaten century, while Dowrich was dismissed for 89 off 98 deliveries.

Wickets fell regularly after that large partnership, but Paul Quinlan’s run-a-ball 25 helped Steeton towards 300, Gavin Thorpe finishing with 3-49.

Harrison (31) put on 52 for Adel’s second wicket with George Trueman (47), but after that the home side struggled, and they were dismissed for 195 to suffer a 96-run defeat.

Pearson took 3-39 and Quinlan 5-50 as Steeton breathed new life into their struggle for survival.

They are still second from bottom, but are now only 23 points adrift of Rawdon.

Apart from facing Otley this weekend, Steeton also have the ‘small matter’ of defending their Waddilove Cup.

They face Horsforth Hall Park in the final at Bilton on Sunday, bidding to win the competition for a third successive season, but for the first time as a top-flight team.

Harden are in a similar league predicament to Steeton in Division One, albeit they are only five points behind third-from-bottom Bardsey after a thumping at promotion-chasing Guiseley.

Andy Wear won the toss and sent Guiseley in, but the decision backfired as the hosts made 317-5.

There was no recovering from Guiseley duo Jack Kelly (121) and Aniket Rana (75) adding a mammoth 177 for the third wicket.

Matthew Hogg persevered to take 3-73 off his 15 overs, but just about all the other bowlers suffered.

Harden’s reply started well with partnerships of 45, 39 and 47, but there was little of substance after that and they were dismissed for 168.

Will Grace featured in all of those stands, ending up with 63 off 73 deliveries, but the innings then fell away from 131-2, with the outstanding Rana (8-44) taking seven of the last eight wickets to fall.