BURTON SALMON prevailed in the battle for the Howarth Pulleyn Heselton York Vale Cricket League division three title.

They overcame a weakened York University Staff side with Steve Warner hammering a century as the visiting village side posted 233-5. Max Driscoll dominated the opening stand by making 52 of a 65 partnership while skipper Richard Waites bowled economically for Staff, whose reply never got going and stumbled to 77-5.

There was a close run thing for second place with Stillingfleet clinching promotion after victory on a run-laden pitch at Woodhouse Grange.

Rob Murray made the most of a batsman's paradise to score an unbeaten 110 to provide the backbone of'Fleets' 223-3. Grange fell 66 runs adrift in reply.

Unlucky Wistow tried hard to overtake Stillingfleet by scoring maximum points against Clifton Alliance. Wistow posted 183-8 then bowled out Alliance for 89.

Huntington secured only their second win of the season awith a comfortable victory against Malton and Old Malton.

Darren Willis, back in the Huntington line-up, plundered 53 out of his side's 146. Phil Dodsworth returned respectable figures of 4-21 for Malton and Old Malton, whose batsmen could only muster 86 in replay between them. Mick Storey took 7-42 for Huntington and was ably supported by Neil Harrington's 3-44.

York visited Drax in division four for the game which would decide the destiny of the title.

It went Drax's way after Dave Murray put York in command by taking 6-22 as the home side were bowled out for 96. However, York had no answer to the wily veteran Bob Wrigglesworth who claimed 6-15 to send York spinning to 72 all out.

Acomb tried to capitalise on York's misfortune by thrashing Burn, but the Clifton Park club still gained second place by virtue of winning more matches. Dave Skilbeck cracked an undefeated 115 out of Acomb's 251-3 and Burn then collapsed to 46 all out.

Bishopthorpe ended the season well by upsetting Selby after a solid opening stand provided the impetus for a decent score of 180-7. Guy Baker went for 57 in Selby's reply as Mike Brown took six wickets to send Selby out for 128.

Mike Murray held Pocklington's innings together against Ovington with 62 from a total of 153. Fourteen-year-old spinner Tom Cookson took 5-46 but the returning Pete Eastwood made Pock's day by claiming 8-42 as Ovington were all out for 124.

Melbourne visited Heworth and must have thought that 176-7 was good enough for victory but John Flint's 109no took Heworth home by nine wickets.

Ovington's rebirth in division one saw them climb from bottom place by eclipsing Westow. Dave Brummit took 6-19 and all rounder Paul Mizon 4-36 as Westow crumbled to 61 all out. Mizon then scored 46no as Ovington won by eight wickets.

They were replaced at the bottom by Burn, who were beaten by British Sugar, who totalled 206-8 with C Heaton top scoring with 56. In reply, Burn put on 100 for the first wicket but failed to keep up the pressure and wilted to 173 all out.

Norwich Union's bandwagon rolled on as they beat Bishopthorpe after recovering from 88-5 to score 218-7. Phil Distin entertained the crowd with 58no from 20 balls and Bishopthorpe never looked like getting on terms and ended on 152-7.

Nine-man Stockton and Hopgrove suffered against North Duffield, whose Lee Wild returned 5-26 as Stockton could only muster 62, Duffield winning by eight wickets inside 20 overs.

Four Drax wickets fell in six balls against Askham Bryan YPO as they slumped to 39-6. Darren Brinded wasted no time inhammering 36 from nine deliveries to boost Drax to 132. But half centuries from Dean Palmer and Paul Daniels saw Askham home by five wickets.

Updated: 11:31 Friday, September 12, 2003