TWO division four promotion contenders were in conflict at Sheriff Hutton Bridge where a seven-wicket win for visiting Malton & Old Malton has handed the Derwent side a 16-point lead.

Skipper Dave Ellis made 50 for the home team but they were only able to make 137-6. This was easily overtaken by the efforts of John Foxton (54) and Chris Smith (45 no).

Long-time leaders Huby had a disappointing day when Easingwold deprived them of their unbeaten record and at the same time chalked up their first win of the season.

It was Smith all the way for Easingwold with Kevin making 46 and Trevor 33 in their 158-6 with James Robinson taking 4-40 for Huby.

In reply, Mike Mirezwinski made 37 and Dave Patmore 25, but the hosts found the bowling of Alan Robinson (6-34) and Adrian Leckenby (4-51) too hot to handle and were knocked over for 122.

Acomb moved into the upper half of the table when they had a good win over Thorp Arch & Boston Spa, the York side losing only two wickets in overtaking the Spa's 160-7.

The bulk of the Boston runs came from Steve Raine (65) and Matt Fraser (40) with James Byford (3-35) being the pick of the Acomb bowlers.

Neil Grant made 42 for Acomb before Nathan Eatherston (47no) and Richard Clayton (39no) put together a winning partnership.

Cawood were another side to gain their first win of the season when Whitkirk were bowled over for only 62.

Simon Hall took 5-31 and 15-year-old James Pullein 3-12 to end the Whitkirk challenge.

Cawood had been able to put a score of 165-8 on the board through the combined efforts of Stuart Baxter (56) and Richard Nicholson (36). Steve Pickles took 3-32 for the losers.

Londesbrough Park had John Williamson (32), Simon Dodd (31), Martin Swann (34no), Andrew Copeland (29) and Paul Youngman (23no) in the runs to boost the total to 170-6.

Sheriff made a poor start but Peter Carr (28), Ben Tompkins (39), Tony Fisher (44no) and Alan Frank (28) saw them home with four wickets in hand.

Andy Hall made a bold bid for re-instatement in Osbaldwick's first team when he took 117 off the Dunnington attack.

His innings on his third appearance of the season enabled Osbaldwick to reach 201-8, despite a promising debut from spinner Patrick Olivier (3-33).

Dave Kitching provided support with 3- 59 then made 30 when Dunnington batted. His side's innings was dominated by Ian Burgess, who made an unbeaten 82 to blunt any threat posed by Matt Dunne's 3-9 and enabled Dunnington to draw at 137-6.

Updated: 11:18 Monday, June 16, 2003