HPH York Vale League division one leaders Askham Bryan YPO tightened their grip at the top by crushing nearest rivals Tollerton Outlaws by 68 runs.

Tollerton started well with Tony Raper (4-53) and Bill Chambers (4-48) restricting Askham to 132-9, Queenslander Dean Palmer top scoring with 36 and Paul Thornton notching a valuable 30no.

Despite chasing only a moderate total, Tollerton's batting buckled. They could not cope with the burly Mike Hamshere, who claimed 5-40. He was ably assisted by Pete Wood with 3-6 to despatch the Outlaws for a paltry 64.

Bishopthorpe won by six wickets at Stockton and Hopgrove with the Bishop's attack ruthlessly led by Ian Holmes, who claimed 3-19. Steve Fraser top scored for Stockton with 36no but his team's total of 102-6 was eclipsed by Andrew St Clair Wicker, who raced to 66 in guiding Bishopthorpe home.

Westow racked up 212-5 against Fulfordgate with opener Rob Kellock carried his bat for 58no. Westow's skipper then carved out 5-13 in bowling out Fulfordgate for 64.

Norwich Union suffered a setback in their chase for honours by going down to British Sugar by five wickets.

Rain wiped out half the league programme, but in division two Stillingfleet's good run continued against Ovington.

Perwez Akhter (54) shared a 104-run stand with young Tom Cookson (66no) in Ovington's 166-6. Chris Walker snatched 5-34. Stillingfleet were wobbling at 44-4 before Chris Woodfine (44no) and Johnny Wright (56no) shared an 80-run stand to win the game for 'Fleet.

Wright's innings included five sixes, three of them coming in successive deliveries. Dave Brummitt collected 3-35 for the beleagured Ovington.

The form side in division three are Thorpe Willoughby. They travelled to University of York Staff and promptly bowled out their hosts for 54. Dave Watson bettered last week's figures of 6-9 by taking 7-17. Nine of the wickets to fall were all bowled. The only Staff member to shine with the bat was Andy Crossland who struck 23.

This only stirred the Staff attack into life as Thorpe subsided to 18-4 but Granville North entered the fray and coolly hit an invaluable 19no to see Thorpe home by four wickets. James Fenton took 3-15 from 11 overs for the Staff.

In division four, Tadcaster Magnet batted first against Bishopthorpe. Mick Cowling (24) and Bobby Collins (22) put on 49 for the first wicket but the introduction of Paul Mizon (4-33) turned the game on its head and Tadcaster could only manage to score 132-8.

Chris St Clair Wicker smashed 61 and Andy Spence nudged 45no in taking Bishopthorpe home by eight wickets with 15 overs to spare.

Pocklington's Mal Harrison provided the spine to his team's 154-7 with a steady 57. Pete Powell struck 29 in support. Gary Wright scored 46 and Tim Carter 45 but Selby could not quite reach the target and folded on 126-6, the returning Neil Tattersall taking 2-25.

Copmanthorpe set Selby a 104-run target in division five. Copmanthorpe's Chris Marsden top scored with 42 as Selby's Terry Smith bagged 3-6.

After putting on 46 for the first wicket the nerves set in for Selby as six wickets passed before the winning post was crossed. Chris Hall bagged 3-17 from 11 overs.

Thorpe Willoughby encountered twin trouble at Ovington. Firstly, Jack Stearman struck 66 in a 101-run partnership with Barry Steel (47). This took Ovington's tally to 202-7. Then twin Jo Stearman returned figures of 3-2-3-4 to gain a 100 run victory for Ovington.

Updated: 09:32 Thursday, July 08, 2004