YORK Cricket Club stepped up into second position in the Yorkshire ECB Premier League when they defeated hitherto second-placed Sheffield Collegiate by 38 runs at Clifton Park.

When York lost the toss and had to bat first on a pitch that only emerged from its covering ten minutes before the start, fear was widespread that a sweaty pitch would help the Sheffield attack.

And so it proved with the front five batters dismissed in 14 overs for 32 runs. Middle order grit was required and Dan Broadbent and Rob Flack provided it before Broadbent handed over to Julian Ramsey who forged a productive almost run-a-minute 62 partnership with Flack.

A useful top-up was provided in a lively closing stand of 25 in six overs from Riley O'Neill and Greg How. Even then a total of 156 did not seem a winning score.

Flack had other ideas and dismissed the dangerous Nick Gaywood first ball. How joined the party with two wickets while Flack added another to reduce Collegiate to 9-4. Jim Tasker set about rescuing the reply but a How skidder caught him in front. Spinners O'Neill and Broadbent bagged a wicket apiece before How and Flack finished the job.

York now trail Harrogate by five points after their incomplete win over Appleby Frodingham. Doncaster are ten points behind with two matches in hand.

However, they have a tough schedule after reaching the last 16 of the Cockspur ECB National Club Competition, which has caused the deferment of York's home League Cup tie against them next Sunday.

York batting: S Piercy b Wylie 13. S Mason lbw b Wylie 2. N Kay b Brown 0. M Wood ct Pitcher b Clark 5. W Warne ct McKenna b Wylie 4. D Broadbent lbw b Clark 18. R Flack b Clark 43. J Ramsey ct Pitcher b Wylie 23. R O'Neill not out 12. G How not out 14 extras 22. Total 156 for 8 wkts.

Collegiate bowling: A Wylie 20-6-39-4. A Brown 10-1-25-1. S Clark 15-3-29-3. J Tasker 7-1-20-0. M Dixon 30-16-0.

Collegiate batting: N Gaywood b Flack 0. S Clark ct Durham b Flack 0. R Kettleborough b How 5. E McKenna lbw b How 4. J Tasker lbw b How 39. C Wall ct Warne b Broadbent 15. N Brenont run out 18. J Pitcher ct Durham b How 7. A Brown ct Piercy b O'Neill 4. M Dixon not out 7. A Wylie c Kay N b Flack 6. Extras 13, total 118 all out.

York bowling: R Flack 15.2-5-27-3. G How 14-3-45-4. D Broadbent 5-1-17-1. R O'Neill 8-4-21-1.

The Yorkshire League v Bradford League Costcutter Cup tie at Harrogate was lost to the weather and may now be replayed on August 1.

Updated: 12:08 Monday, July 05, 2004