IT could hardly have been closer in the opening round of the York Vale League's Scothern Construction Cup at Stockton and Hopgrove II.

The hosts needed two runs from the final delivery to tie the scores against Melbourne and win due to losing fewer wickets. And this they achieved for a nailbiting success.

Melbourne had hit 161 all out, Adam Room carrying his bat for 69no while Neil Collinson took five wickets.

Stockton's reply was teetering under the accuracy of Martin Kidd with the score at 135-7 with four overs left.

Bowler-turned-opening bat Steve Wragg had a day to remember for Ben Johnson by scoring 107no, his maiden century, to help set Burn II a victory target of 266, Neil Drew (73) and Martin Reynolds (55no) also contributing well. Adam Prescott jnr (51no) top scored for Burn but they lost by 115 runs.

A match decided by bowlers rather than batters saw Bishopthorpe all out for 37 against Malton and Old Malton I, George Cooper taking 5-11 and Matt Bulmer 3-7.

Malton then lost five wickets before crawling over the winning line.

Another bowling display, 5-13 from University of York Staff's Brian Donnelly, saw Malton II dismissed for 55. Rich Waites then caressed 36no in steering Staff home by eight wickets.

A high-scoring affair saw Ovington I smash 226-9, Barry Steel leading the way with 71, while Stephen Hall was Drax II's best bowler with 4-49.

Drax II replied well but found Sadiq in fine form with the ball, his 7-49 giving Ovington victory by 46 runs.

Max Driscoll hit 88 and Mark Horsey 56 of Burton Salmon's 255-9, which was 95 runs too much for the Ovington second string, for whom Fasial Bacus (34) was main man. Adrian Davies took four Ovington wickets.

Phil Elliott's 101 took Wistow to 192-7 against Hirst United, and only eighth man Tony Hinch (46no) had any resistance in reply, Hirst losing by 53 runs.

Graham Fosdyke's unbeaten knock of 46 for Pocklington was also in vain as Gary Wright (54no) saw Selby I pass Pock's 139-6 with five wickets to spare.

Andy Thrall was another centurion, with 116 in Heworth's 193-3 against Woodhouse Grange, who managed 118-6 in response.

A run-laden affair at Copmanthorpe saw visitors Greg Alison (97) and Matt Boyle (88) pile up 266-8 for York, veteran Cop bowler Geoff Deighton taking 5-56.

Paul Waterhouse ensured a decent reply by stroking 62, but the huge total was 90 runs out of reach.

The highest individual score of the day belonged to Ben Wallace, whose 121no saw Acomb to 229-3 against Tadcaster Magnet. New recruit Glyn Botterill then took out Taddy's top order with a fantastic 5-8 from ten overs. Tadcaster wicketkeeper Dave Whitaker remained undefeated with 61no.

Wheldrake II had Kevin Dent to thank for his all-round efforts in their victory over Huntington. He top scored with 56no and returned 4-34 to gain victory by 12 runs.

Thorpe Willoughby II hit 162 all out against Selby II, Peter Masterman top scoring with 66. But under Mike Parsonage's 40, Selby earned victory by three wickets.

Clifton Alliance ran up 165-5 as Rich Heald top scored with 67no against Sheriff Hutton, who had Tony Hull (58) to thank for getting them to 119 all out.

Granville North hit 49 for Thorpe Willoughby I but Paul Flint (52no) took Heworth past the 134 target with seven wickets in hand.

Updated: 10:41 Thursday, May 19, 2005