YORK consolidated third position in the Oxbridge Yorkshire ECB Premier League by defeating Driffield by eight wickets at Clifton Park.

It was a necessary victory as top two teams Scarborough and Cleethorpes had comfortable victories over Harrogate and Rotherham respectively.

Driffield sensibly asked York to field in the heat of the day but soon found the ressure returned by bowler Rob Flack.

He made the vital incursion of dismissing high-scoring Phil Woodcock and Pakistan star Mohammed Zaman - the latter for a duck.

This opened up the middle of Driffield's batting for York's spin twins, New Zealand squad man Jeetan Patel and England Under-19 bowler Dan Broadbent.

They had the rest of the Driffield batters in their grip except for Steve Winterbottom (42no), who stood firm with an excellent rearguard action but never found a reliable partner.

Broadbent finished with 4-39 and Patel 3-28.

On such a good pitch it was something of a surprise to dismiss the Woldsmen so cheaply, but Simon Mason (52no) and Marcus Wood (44no) paid tribute to the conditions, stroking York to an easy nine-wicket victory with countless overs to spare.

Scarborough continued their sparkling start to the season with a 102-run victory in the North Yorkshire derby against Harrogate at North Marine Road.

Hopes that Yorkshire's Craig White, battling back to fitness, would get runs for the Seasiders, did not come to fruition.

He was out without scoring but fellow opener Clint Heron stroked an impressive 109 and figured in a big stand with Neil Elvidge (93) after Boro skipper Darren Harland was out cheaply.

The third-wicket pair provided the backbone for Scarborough's 282-8, a total that Harrogate never really challenged.

Rich Gilbert took 3-39 as Harrogate subsided to 180 all out.

York Ladies match v Bridlington Ladies will now take place tomorrow at Clifton Park (6.15pm start).

Updated: 09:11 Monday, June 02, 2003