CASTLEFORD gained their first win of the season, beating Rowntree, and Studley got the best of a draw at Harrogate in the only two games completed in division two of Hunters the estate agent York and District Senior League.

The Rowntree batsmen were able to make only 147-9 in a 40 over innings at Castleford, whose Ben Smith took 4-28 in eight overs.

Richard Tuite (27) and Mick Jones (25) were the only two Rowntree batsmen to make a show.

Dave Thompson responded well by taking 3-42 in 10.5 overs, but could not prevent a five wicket home win as Simon Parker made 55 not out and Simon Tucker 39.

Batting first at St George's Road, Studley Royal's batsmen thrived on the league's best marked ground and raced to 225-7 despite an overs reduction to 30 per side.

Matt Skinner led the way with 93 and Anthony Mackle hit 76. The best home bowlers were Matt Hugham (3-55) and Ben Woolman (3-57).

Harrogate's batsmen, in their turn, found the pitch to their liking and, with James Townsend making 67 and Miles Rawlings 39, were easily able to ward off any threat posed by Andy Mackle (3-46) as they moved to a draw at 169-6.

Division two leaders Sewerby were probably one of the sides who greeted the intervention of the wet weather. They had been reduced to 58-6 when pursuing 194-4 posted by Dringhouses in a 33-over game when the weather took control.

Dringhouses' batting heroes were John Crowe, who hit 76, and Mark Hayter, who was unbeaten with 64. Crowe then took 3-32 with his spinners to leave the home side looking over a cliff edge.

Hemingbrough hit the highest total of the day when they made 247-4 in 32 overs against Scarborough, but were then thwarted by the wet weather at teatime.

Maqsood Akbar, who became the first batsman in the league's history to hit seven centuries in a season in 2003, was frustratingly one short of another three figure score when he was left unbeaten on 99.

Simon Cox also made a big score when he hit 81, while Imran Malik was the third half century maker when he hit 52.

Mark Wells claimed 3-75 for Scarborough, whose reply was aborted at the outset.

There was no play in the games due to take place at Crayke and Hovingham.

Updated: 09:08 Monday, June 28, 2004