THE clash between the top two division three sides at Bolton Percy saw second-placed New Earswick emerge with the better of a draw to cut their opponents' lead to 31 points.

Aussie Mike James hit 89 and Craig Stimpson 33 as Earswick just missed out on the fifth batting point at 199-8. Ali Rigby took 4-37 for Bolton, whose reply of 156-5 rested on the shoulders of Nick Lister, who made 64.

Third-placed Acomb also had the better of a draw put pouched two more points than Earswick to close to within a single point.

In a 42-over affair, John Webster made an unbeaten 93, Rob Littlewood (35) and John Renshaw (39) as Acomb made 233-6 with their opponents, Bubwith, offering some assistance by dropping eight catches. The home side then slipped to 70-6 before an unbroken seventh wicket stand of 80 between Brian Last (53no) and Neil Readman (31no) saw them to a draw at 150-6.

The game between the bottom two sides - Woodhouse Grange and Yapham - took place with the outcome of their opening day game still to be debated by the League's appeal committee following a dispute about the legality of the cancellation due to adverse conditions.

This time Grange batted first and reached 149-2 with Stuart Craven making 37, Ian Henderson 34 and James Rudd 46no. Dudley Cooper then made inroads with 3-45 but Trevor Walker hit 52 before 18-year-old Edward Simpson struck an unbeaten 52 against his former club to clinch a six-wicket victory, which rekindled Yapham's hopes of avoiding the drop into division four.

The game at Wilberfoss was also drawn when the home side were unable to match a Heworth total of 157 all out. Joe Johnson made 45 for the York side but the first half honours were firmly claimed by Josh Room who took 7-55. After tea Geoff Room made 32 but ex-Stamford Bridge bowler Andy Parkinson took 3-40 to leave the home side on 132-8.

Updated: 10:12 Monday, July 12, 2004