YORK Cricket Club's five-wicket Yorkshire ECB Premier League victory over Barnsley consolidated their second place only three points behind Harrogate.

Marcus Wood inserted Barnsley and opening bowlers Rob Flack and Greg How gave him immediate dividends with three wickets in eight overs for only six runs.

A few overs later Flack bowled Ben Hunsley as he threatened resitance with Ellis.

Wood's introduction of occasional medium pacer Nick Kay proved an astute move as he removed Elllis to a Piercy slip catch in his first over.

It was downhill for Barnsley thereafter and How returned to produce a cameo dismissal with a Nigel Durham leg-side stumping of former Yorkshire staff 'keeper Matt Thewlis.

Riley O'Neill and Julian Ramnsey cleaned up the tail for York to chase 99 for victory.

And chase they did. Not entirely trusting the damp pitch and darking sky, Stephen Piercy and Simon Mason adopted the bold approach, hitting 78 runs off the first ten overs.

Piercy's departure at 79 induced a mini collapse with five wickets falling in seven overs before Mason saw his side home with 36 overs to spare.

Leaders Harrogate produced a great escape act to win at Driffield.

The St George's Road side looked down and out at 144-7 in response to home side Driffield's 228-7.

But Rupert Scales and Chris Kippax put together a match-winning partnership with Scales undefeated on 40 and Kippax 39 not out.

It was Harrogate's fifth win in their last seven outings, the other two being abandoned.

Sheffield Collegiate beat Doncaster to stay in third place. Andy Gray took 4-11 with his off spin from15.4 overs as Doncaster were shot out for 111 in response to Collegiate's 230-5.

Nick Gaywood and Ed McKenna both scored half centuries with Richard Kettleborough contributing 45.

Yorkshire captain Craig White turned out for his club Scarborough and scored 40 in their four-wicket win at Appleby Frodingham.

Tom Pateman took 4-31 and Richard Gilbert 3-39 as the home side were bowled out for 144.

Barnsley: L Dickinson lbw How 0, R Wilkinson ct How b Flack 2, P Hepworth lbw How 0, B Hunsley b Flack 13, J Ellis ct Piercy b Kay 24, M Thewlis st Durham b How 7, G Fenton b Ramsey 13, R Griffith lbw Kay 0, M Beardshall c Warne b O'Neill 4, A Ivill st Durham b O'Neill 6, M Ivill not out 7. Extras 22. Total: 98.

Bowling: Flack 12-4-22-2, How 14-3-37-3, Kay 7-5-6-2, O'Neill 6-1-15-2, Ramsey 1.4-0-1-1

York: S Piercy b A Ivill 33, S Mason not out 50, N Kay ct Dickinson b Wilkinson 2, M Wood b A Ivill 2, W Warne lbw Wilkinson 0, D Broadbent b A Ivill 2, R Flack not out 0. Extras 10. Total: 99-5

Bowling: R Griffith 3-0-22-0, J Ellis 2-0-15-0, M Ivill 2-0-16-0, A Ivill 6.1-1-21-3, E Wilkinson 5-0-18-2.

Clifton cup clash

The last remaining quarter-final of the Myers Burnell Cup will be played tonight at Clifton Park between Clifton Alliance and Heworth.

The semi-finals will be played on Monday and Thursday next week with the final on Sunday, August 8.

Updated: 09:32 Monday, July 12, 2004