His dogged 47 not out at Broadfold Park on Saturday saw Booth home to cap another excellent showing by the young side.

Earlier Booth had got off to a stunning start with Sowerby on the rack at 29 for 6. Richard Laycock and Ollie Collinge again spearheaded the attack superbly, wreaking havoc in the Sowerby top order. Backed up by some electric fielding, Sowerby had no answer to Laycock’s pace or Collinge’s accuracy.

One catch in particular by scientist Mathew Brown, will struggle to be bettered this season as he dived full length, high to his right to pouch a one-handed beauty and send Hoyle back to the shed in disbelief.

Clarke and Patrick rallied well for Sowerby to give the total some respectability with Clarke showing admirable courage to compile a polished fifty after being hit on the head by a rampant Laycock. Had Laycock been able to bowl through from the start, rather than be obliged to go and rest for fourteen overs by the ECB, the total could have been a lot less.

Once allowed back into the attack, he duly mopped the tail, culminating with pinning Chris Greenwood plumb LBW, and finishing with the impressive stats of 10.2-4-25-5.

Chasing 143 was no formality against the spin duo of Greenwood and Martin Schofield who have harvested another hefty haul of wickets this summer. Booth were aided by a breezy 40 from Jason Cartlidge who looked something like his old self. But when he and Laycock fell in quick succession, Sowerby sniffed a possible collapse.

But Gareth Swain stepped forward to ably assist veteran Sharkey and see Booth home, his 27 not continuing his fine season with the blade so far.

If there is a prize for the most oiled bat in the Halifax Premier League this season, Gareth’s orange Gunn and Moore should win by a street.

Mytholmroyd went fourth after a seven-wicket home success over Northowram Hedge Top.

Jon Lord is better known for his work with the bat but he found the playing conditions ideal to demonstrate his leg spin skills to the tune of seven wickets for 75 as the Rams posted a total of 222.

Royd never took their foot off the pedal when they replies, headed by an unbeaten 89 from opener Steve Senior. With Zeb Mahmood adding 53 and knocks of 20 from Lord and 25 from Zahid Mahmood, Royd's win was fairly comfy.

The other valley side in action last weekend were Luddenden Foot, who have found the campaign hard going but achieved their first Division One success for a couple of months with a three-wicket home win over Thornton.

All the top five visiting batsmen were in lively form headed by Andy Hutchinson's 69 before Ian Nicolson pegged them back with a fine 5-45 return.

Facing a target of 193 Foot were reeling at 116 for six but John Midgley (61 no) and skipper Andy Heptinstall (38) dug in for what proved to be a match-winning stand of 76, Heptinstall out when the scores were level.