THERE was a high-scoring Edward Readman Trophy first round game at Stamford Bridge which included two centuries but ended with Rowntrees conceding after one of their players collapsed whilst fielding.

Richard Tuite made 60 in an opening stand of 107 for Rowntrees with Gerry Capelin who then figured in a further three figure stand when he and Paul Horner added 106 for the third wicket.

Horner was dismissed for 55 but Capelin went on to make 101 not out as Rowntrees totalled 267-3. Stamford's opening pairing of Stuart Boyle and Ed Sykes then more than measured their counterparts as they raced to 114 before Sykes fell for 37.

Boyle was then joined by Matt Beckett and the pair plundered runs at will off a depleted Rowntrees attack. They had moved to 254-1 when one of the Rowntrees players, Paul Brook, collapsed and, with an ambulance called for, Rowntrees conceded the game as the home side required a mere 14 runs to win off the remaining 6.2 overs.

In a repeat of last season, Hemingbrough beat Hovingham by 25 runs in a game which saw both sides bowled out. John Waterhouse played the decisive innings by hitting 50 for Hemingbrough with Nabil Khan making 28 in their total of 146. Khan then followed with 3-19, giving Gaudav Singh, who took 5-13, admirable support as Hovingham were dismissed for 121.

One of the most thrilling finishes took place at Cawood where visiting New Earswick gained a one wicket win in the final over in a cracking game of cricket. Kevin Farmery top scored for the home side with 75 while Stuart Baxter made 33 and Richard Nicholson 30 in a good total of 187-8. Michael James was Earswick's leading bowler with 4-44 then brother Andrew followed with 68.

Farmery kept Cawood in the hunt by taking 3-26 but Paul Stimpson's unbeaten 28 just edged Earswick into the next round.

There was another extremely close finish at Sewerby where, this time, the home side emerged triumphant when Dringhouses lost by two runs. James Edmondson was the home hero as he followed his 50 with 3-34. S Acton lent support with 29 as Sewerby made 198-9 despite the efforts of John Crowe who took 4 for 37. In reply, Andy Kenyon hit 56, Geoff Smith 31 and Mark Hayter 37 but the trio had to endure the agony of defeat when their reply closed at 196-7.

Stillington's overseas star Khagan Arzal gave a virtual one man show when he took 4-52 as Wilberfoss made 224-6 and then followed with 93. Unfortunately for the man from Lahore his team mates were unable to offer adequate support and Stillington were dismissed for 183. The Chaplin brothers were at the forefront of the Wilberfoss innings with John making 40 and David (54) while stalwarts Geoff Room (40) and Mike Stothard 42 also made valuable runs. Des Healey then took 4-29 to ensure Stillington's exit.

Hornsea had a disappointing day when Huntington again failed to field a side. Huby were another side to fail to field a team as they handed the tie to Duncombe Park.

Bridlington hit the day's top score when Hafeez Khalid hit 110 and Simon Garton an unbeaten 100 in a massive 290-3. Sheriff Hutton replied with 162-6.

Runs flowed at Bubwith where Thorp Arch & Boston Spa overtook the home total of 214-5 with an over and four wickets in hand. Brian Last hit 54, Neil Pratt 35 and Mike Spragg an unbeaten 41 for the East Yorkshire side but their efforts were nullified principally by Chris Magee who rattled an unbeaten 92. He was aided by Andy Hawkswell's 26 and Andy Heaps who made 48.

Crayke won a fairly low scoring game after Richard Wentworth's 3-29 had pegged Civil Service to 108-9. Andrew Dawson made 40 as Crayke won by five wickets.

Whitkirk raced to a five-wicket victory on the compact Yapham ground where they took just 22.3 overs to surpass the village side's 145-9. Home runs came from Barry Pearson 46 and Clive Clark 30 as Mark Murphy took 3-10 and Aussie Brett Hugo 4-24. Hugo then followed with 46 and Craig Shipton made 27 before S Atkinson clinched the issue with an unbeaten 40.

Third division side Bolton Percy had a surprisingly easy victory over second division Studley Royal who went down by nine wickets.

Rob Nicholson made 30 for Studley but his side were sent to an early tea when Peter Houseman took 4-39 and Howard Hall 3-19 to dismiss them for 95. Former Clifton Alliance keeper Dave Russell then hit a fluent 60no and Howard Hall made 28no as Bolton reached their target for the loss of just one wicket.

Ripon have been having limited success in the league but had little difficulty in beating a Tadcaster Magnet side which were knocked over for 68 as Dirk Van Dyke took 3-11 and Jason Gains 3-27. Aussie Paul Reynolds then made 29no as Ripon won by seven wickets.

Harrogate were another side to emerge from the doldrums when they turned their backs on six successive league defeats to beat Castleford by 103 runs. Leading the way for Harrogate was Simon Mantle who hit 73 while Rob Stanworth made 49. With Miles Rawlings adding 37 and Farran Norris 25, Harrogate were able to take the game beyond their opponents by posting a total of 228-5. Castleford then played out the second half by reaching 125-5.

A close encounter at Pocklington saw the home team just manage to defend a score of 212-6 to win by five runs when they dismissed their opponents for 207. Neil Jackson made 58 and Rob Hinch 48 for the home side. In reply Richard Grice 47, Mick Drury 37 and Andy Winterbottom 38 all played good innings but Kev Hinch's 3-32 just tipped the scales in Pocklington's favour.

Scarborough travelled to Malton & Old Malton whose skipper Neil Johnson hit an unbeaten century which set up a 59 run win for the hosts. Johnson made exactly 100 no as he and Gary Hall 35 built on the generosity of the Scarborough side who contributed 50 extras to a total of 210-5.

These gift runs played a part in the outcome of the match as Scarborough, for whom Mark Welford made 47 and Neil Fletcher 29, were dismissed for 151 with Danny Foxton taking 4-31.

Updated: 11:11 Tuesday, June 01, 2004