It was a mixed weekend for York Cricket Club, with a convincing victory over Yorkshire ECB Premier League leaders Driffield by eight wickets being followed by an equally merited seven-wicket defeat at the hands of fellow title challengers Harrogate.

York established their grip on Driffield with Rob Flack and Mike Mortimer claiming three wickets in their first overs. Mortimer grabbed another before Mark Tennant and Steve Winterbottom started a revival with a stand of 35 runs which Mortimer ended with the help of a smart Flack catch off Tennant.

It was downhill for Driffield after Winterbottom was run out as Flack returned to pick up two more tail-end victims.

York's batsmen were in imposing form and reached the 111-run target in the 22nd over. Simon Mason and Nick Kay struck the ball powerfully earning 18 boundaries between them.

Sunday's visit to Harrogate, however, was a disappointment.

York elected to bat and reached 80-1 in the 23rd over when Yorkshire contracted all-rounder Vic Craven snared Nick Kay in front of his stumps only a single short of his 50.

Steve Piercy continued to anchor the innings but the introduction of Richard Parker with his innocuous looking left arm spinners brought out the worst in York's batters as they sensed a feast but were gobbled up.

They left empty handed and Park walked off with six wickets for only 30 runs to reduce York's promise of a large total to a meagre 169.

York worked hard in the field but the class and experience of Craven and former Yorkshire colt John Inglis proved too much as they added 81 runs in only 43 minutes. As rain threatened, Inglis sacrificed his wicket in a run charge and Craven hit a huge six to ensure victory.

York v Driffield

Driffield batting: R Drury ct Flack b Mortimer, 4. M Tennant ct Flack b Mortimer, 31. A Inns ct Mortimer b Flack. M Saman ct Durham b Flack, 2. R Winterbottom ct Piercy b Mortimer, 10. S Winterbottom run out 19. A Chapman st Durham b How, 6. M Clarkson lbw b Flack, 5. G Hodgson c&b flack, 1. L Jennison lbw b Broadbent, 16. D Brent not out 0 Extras 16 Total 110 all out.

York bowling: M Mortimer 9-1-39-3, R Flack 13-4-35-4, G How 12-3-25-1, D Broadbent 1.5-0-4-1.

York batting: S Piercy lbs b S Winterbottom, 8. S Mason ct Tennant b Brent 55. N Kay not out 42. W Warne not out 3 Extras 6, Total 114 for 2 wickets.

Driffield bowling: S Winterbottom 8-1-46-1, G Hodgson 6-0-28-0, M Clarkson 4-1-0-28-0, D Brent 3-0-9-1.

Harrogate v York

York batting: S Piercy b Parker 32. S Macon ct Craven b Pennett 7. N Kay lbw b Craven 49. W Warne b Parker 0. M Wood ct sub b Parker 16. D Broadbent run out 1. R Flack lbw b Craven 1. R O'Neill ct Bryan bt Parker 16. M Mortimer b Parker 21. G How lbw b Parker 14. N Durham not out 1 Extras 6 Total 169 all out.

Harrogate bowling: V Craven 16-2-51-2, D Pennett 6-2-27-1, C Kippax 21-3-58-0, Parker 10.4-2-30-6.

Harrogate batting: J Inglis ct Broadbent b O'Neill 82. R Bradshaw ct How b Broadbent 5. T Leeming ct Durham b O'Neill 10. V Craven not out 58. P Parker not out 8. Extras 7 Total 170 for 3 wickets.

York bowling: D Broadbent 15-5-52-1, M Mortimer 7-2-15-0, G How 8.1-1-37-0, R O'Neill 11-1-56-2.

Updated: 10:56 Monday, June 21, 2004