STOCKTON and Hopgrove woke up half way through their HPH York Vale Cricket League division one encounter with Westow with startling effect.

Westow got off to their customary good start and reached 75-0 after 18 overs. Then Ian Smith (6-47) and Nigel Collinson (4-25) started the Stockton revival by taking the last six wickets for only 13 runs and Westow were shot out for 126.

Stockton's openers both retired hurt before Dave Kerrison entered the fray to smash 54no to steer his side home by eight wickets.

Leaders Askham Bryan YPO were in trouble at 64-3 against British Sugar but a stand of 85 between Andy Sturdy (60) and Paul Thornton (38) swung things back in Askham's favour. Set a total of 165 for victory, Sugar lost regular wickets to the prolific Mike Hamshere (8-49) and closed out on 108. Only Steve Bellerby made any runs of note with 43.

Norwich Union kept up the chase by beating Drax by 30 runs. Matt Phillips top scored with 54no in their total of 176-5. Drax captain Paul Smith bagged 3-54. Drax could not muster any partnerships with only Keith Powell scoring handily with 47. Gawaine Hogg and Simon Cook shared eight wickets for Union.

North Duffield strolled to an emphatic ten-wicket win over hapless Tollerton Outlaws.

Ross Hardy top scored with 38 in Tollerton's 110-4. Lee Wild (59no) and Dave Beilby (44no) had little trouble in knocking off the runs required.

Fulfordgate's top order all scored runs against Bishopthorpe. Keith Pepper led the way with 53 in his side's 157-8. Dave Gardiner was the pick of the Bishopthorpe bowling quintet by bagging 4-18. Ian Holmes then capped a decent all round effort by hitting 59 to lead Bish home by two wickets.

Division two leaders Burn scraped home by one wicket against Kelfield whose Phil Smith cracked a marvellous 105no. He was backed up by Neil Atkinson with 46 in a total of 188-6. Despite Steve Schofield taking 5-42, Burn's Rob Webster hit 68no to lead Burn home.

Copmanthorpe overcame a Martin Reynolds-inspired Ben Johnson. His 61 enabled a total of 147-8 with John Hughes claiming 4-38. Copmanthorpe were always up with the run rate as Charles Mitton (36no) earned them a five-wicket victory.

Thixendale overcame Hirst United by seven wickets. The top score for Hirst were the 32 extras in a total of 134-7. Les Milburn caressed 48no in the Thixendale reply.

Wheldrake's Les Fearn took 7-31 against Stillingfleet, including three wickets in five balls. Set a score of 146 for victory, Chris Walker outdid Fearn with 8-54 as 'Fleet won by 14 runs.

Max Driscoll (65) and his father, Colin (58), took Burton Salmon to 198-8 against Ovington, who had a go at reaching their target. But once Barry Steel (50) and Dave Coe (37) fell they could not manage the extra runs, finishing 27 runs shy. Adrian Davies took 5-91 for Salmon.

Terry Rose smashed an astonishing 166no for York in division three against Askham Bryan YPO as the Clifton Park team amassed 273-2. Only Chris Parker, with 53, showed any aptitude as the Askham reply was 153 runs short.

University of York Staff were also in the runs against Drax. Ashley Pike (89) and Richard Waites (72) took the score to 256-8. Only Steve Goulden with 32 shone in Drax's total of 119. Gavin Cowley's outswingers gave him 3-19.

Granville North smashed 108 of Thorpe Willoughby's 242-4 against Woodhouse Grange with Andy McEvoy chipping in with 52. Grange's openers added 76 for first down but only John Henley with 56 coped with the Thorpe attack in which Martin Cooke took 3-11 to curtail the Grange innings on 173-9.

Wistow scored 174-8 against leaders Heworth, Phil Elliott top scoring with 48 as Mark Groom took 3-16. Heworth's batsmen could not cope with Ian Jennings' accuracy as he took 6-16 from 15 overs and the Elm Park Way team finished on 100-9.

Malton and Old Malton racked up 187 all out against Clifton Alliance, Bill Roddham taking 5-46. Matt Tildsley then replied for Malton with 7-38 to leave Clifton all out for 144.

Updated: 09:42 Thursday, July 29, 2004