OPENER Paul Scaling steered Sheriff Hutton Bridge to victory in their Cricketer National Village Championship area final at Staxton.

He put on 86 with Paul Oldfield (29) as SHB chased Staxton's 194-4 off 40 overs.

Scaling hit 73 off 79 balls and his brother, Nick, rattled up an unbeaten 34 off 29 deliveries as Bridge reached 196-7 with seven balls to spare.

Earlier Scarborough Beckett League side Staxton had found the going tough against spinner Danny Snowball, who took 3-18.

However, they smashed 100 runs in the last ten overs of their innings, John Mancrief blasting 48 off 29 balls to support Gary Jones' undefeated 69.

It still was not enough to stop Sheriff Hutton Bridge from winning Group Five to go through to a home tie against Hooton Pagnell in round six on Sunday, July 6.

Bridge, regular entrants in the competition, reached the last 16 in 2001.

Updated: 09:37 Wednesday, June 25, 2003