YORK maintained their leadership of the Yorkshire ECB County Premier League with a winning draw over Clifton Park visitors Sheffield United.

But York's margin of superiority at the top of the table was narrowed to just two points as North Yorkshire rivals Scarborough bowled out Castleford in a 66-run triumph to earn eight points to York's six.

The Clifton Park outfit just could not dismiss United despite their 73-runs advantage carved out by their superior batting after opting to take to the middle first in the heat.

However, as the second half of the campaign unfolds, they may regret not having taken on the burden of fielding in the sun first to then earn the right to knock off whatever the Steelers might well have set them.

York's success was built on the foundation of a superb opening partnership of 131 from Simon Mason and Steve Piercy.

Mason hammered a flurry of powerful shots to amass ten boundaries in his knock of 65, while Piercy continued serenely to his century, also cruising past the 500-run mark for the season.

The remaining York batsmen upped the pace, scoring 76 runs in the final ten overs with Dan Broadbent adding a cameo 31 in 19 deliveries as the hosts posted a useful 162-5 total.

After making a sound start and at a quicker rate, United were then found themselves curtailed by York off-spinners Jeetan Patel and Broadbent, who claimed openers Martin Barlow and Ray Cummins.

They appeared to be steadily working their way through the Sheffield line-up only to encounter an obdurate obstacle in Martin King.

He batted for more than an hour aided by Mike Hempstock, a like-minded ally in defiance, to see the overs out with their side well short of the target butwith three wickets in hand.

Updated: 09:34 Monday, July 14, 2003