Jim Tasker opened with his fifth half century of the season as Hallam started well but their ride was not quite a simple as they expected with Darfield managing to hold them back well. South African Graham Fawkes hit a decent 30 that pushed Hallam up to a healthy 184-9 from 50 overs. Paul Wilkinson and Andrew Townsley both claimed three wickets for Darfield.

Hallam moved up to second with this win and are looking to replicate the progress that seemingly unstoppable Treeton have made. The Sheffield side did manage to reproduce the devastating attacking performance that Treeton showed against Darfield and removed them for the same paltry score but did so in more ruthless fashion.

Treeton offered the courtesy of allowing the first half of the Darfield order to put some runs on the board before sending them off. Hallam did not as they all departed for ducks. Fawkes provided the fireworks with an impressive 4-17 while Humphrey Emery was even better with 5-12 figures.

Darfield are now 11 points off safety at the half way point of the season and have yet to pick up a win.

Wath 163-5 Barnsley 2nd XI 160-9

ANY title aspirations left at Moor Road now look to be just hopeful wishes as Wath let the Treeton juggernaut move further clear despite another impressive win over Barnsley Seconds.

In another season, the excellent improvement from Wath may have been enough to land them the title and such slip ups as being unable to remove the final Barnsley pairing would have not cost them much. But any slip up by any side is proving devastating as Treeton roar off into the distance, and Wath's niggle saw them drop into third behind Hallam.

Peter Hadfield and Simon Potter both reached half tons and added 71 for the third wicket as Barnsley made decent early progress. Hadfield hit seven fours in his 56 while Potter smashed eight in his 50. Wath began to bite back with Steve Reynolds bowling effectively to take 5-26 and Lesroy Weekes claiming 3-29 as the wickets fell quickly to 160-9 at the close.

Opener Matt Burrows was in good form to stroke 72 and Johnny Younis supported well until he was run out for 30.

Wath lost five wickets in reaching the winning score.