Pickering remain top of Hunters the estate agent York and District Senior League division three despite losing by eight wickets in a table-topping clash at Acomb.

Andy Hill made 39 and Andrew Grayson 26 for the visitors, but good bowling by the experienced Richard Clayton (4-31) and teenage spinner Richard Allman (3-39) pegged the Pikes to 127-9.

Clayton then hit an unbeaten 52 as he and Neil Hinde (39no) saw their side to an easy victory.

Jason Gatus hit 80 but was on the losing side when Bolton Percy overhauled Heworth's 148-8 for the loss of four wickets.

While Gatus flourished the remaining batsmen struggled as Alistair Rigby claimed 5-69. Rich Winterburn hit back with 3-31 but important innings by Danny White (47) and Peter Houseman (52no), took second placed Bolton to within four points of the leaders.

Yapham held the upper hand for the first time this season when they had the better of a draw at Bubwith.

Dick Wright made 42, Ed Simpson 33 and Nigel West a cameo 26 not out to counter the debut performance of Zimbabwean Shaun Saywood, who took 4-34 on his first outing.

Neil Readman led Bubwith's reply with an unbeaten 59 after Ed Smith had made 26, but Dave Barnes returned 3-22 as Bubwith followed Yapham's 160-8 with 135-7.

Stillington maintained their momentum when they returned from Malton with a five-wicket win after Khaquan Arsal Raja made 71. Lester Parkin's 58 was at the hub of Malton's total of 152-7, with Wayne Linton taking 3-46 and Rob Coultas 3-43 to leave Malton at 152-7.

Wilberfoss won by five wickets at Clifton Alliance, who were taken to 181-7 by Richard Hunter (25), John Myers (29), Duncan Naylor (31) and Paul Atkinson (39no) while Steve Cooper took 3-57.

For Wilberfoss, Phil Stothard made 55 and Dave Chaplin 40. Alistair Wray caused ripples with his 4-56 but Mike Stothard had the last word when his unbeaten 33 saw Wilberfoss home at 182-5.

Another quartet of batsmen figured when New Earswick took full batting points by reaching 214-8 in their first innings against Woodhouse Grange.

John Hetherton was the top scorer with 49 while the James brothers Mark (32) and Andrew (33), together with Craig Stimpson (30), helped to ward off the threat posed by Nick Barrett's 4-55.

Ian Shepherdson then made 36 for Grange, but Martin Hewitson's 4-30 had them tottering on the brink of defeat when the game ended at 103-9.

Updated: 08:08 Tuesday, June 01, 2004