Nestl Rowntree Athletics Club's senior men's track and field team got their season back on target at Grimsby when they moved in to second place overall in the second division of the North Men's League.

They must beat Doncaster and Stainforth AC in next month's fixture to finish in the top two and gain a play-off place in the battle for promotion.

The York club were only four points adrift of winners Lincoln Wellington at Grimsby and Bob Berriman would have easily gained these points in the triple jump had he been allowed to enter. He was competing in the pole vault and was late arriving to register for the triple jump and officials would not let him enter.

Nestle Rowntree had seven winners, 12 second places, only 12 lower placings and two events where they only fielded one athlete, including triple jump.

Richard Buck won the 400 metres 'A' race in 49.9 seconds and he also won the 'B' string high jump.

The pole vault provided maximum points, with John Gregory winning the 'A' string and Bob Berriman the 'B'. Gregory was also second in the 'A' string 110m hurdles and second in 'B' string 400m hurdles.

Berriman was second in both 'A' string long and high jumps.

Neil Killen and Paul Wilson had a busy afternoon in the throws, winning 'A' and B string in the discus, while Killen also won the 'B' hammer.

Both Andy Hilton and Paul Goble were back in action after injury in the longer track events and collected valuable points.

Mike Holmes won the 'B' string 800m while Sandy Cowan was second in the 'A' string.

Other second places came from Richard Menzies and Andy Burt in the 1,500m and Richard Parr and Andy Normandale in the steeplechase.

The 4 x 100m relay squad finished fifth, but the 4 x 400m squad ensured a good end to the afternoon by finishing a close second.

The final result was: 1 Lincoln Wellington 332 pts, 2 Nestl Rowntree 328, 3 Doncaster and Stainforth 289, 4 Barnsley 269, 5 Boston AC 236, 6 Cleethorpes 231, 7 Wakefield 230.

Overall standings (after 3 events): 1 Lincoln Wellington 19, 2 Nestle Rowntree 15 (895), 3 Doncaster and Stainforth 15 (884), 4 Barnsley 13, 5 Wakefield 11, 6 Boston 10, 7 Cleethorpes 4.

Updated: 09:48 Friday, July 11, 2003