With all the bowler-friendly wet wickets about, one match in the Horwath Pulleyn Heselton second division accumulated more than 400 runs.

Playing at Hirst, Thixendale batted first and found bowlers Russell Stones and Dave Brook in good form as the visitors were reduced to 30-4.

But then a stand of 111 between captain Ade Brader and century-maker Phil Thistleton (113no) broke Hirst hearts as runs flowed to the tune of 218-6.

Hirst openers Phil Alford and Duncan Hedley obliged with a necessary sound start, compiling a stand worth 104. However, the tireless Graham Lyndsay pegged the batsmen back to send Thixendale home victorious by 26 runs

A top-of-the-table clash took place at Tollerton, where visitors Kelfield were made to toil for every run, though Neil Atkinson scored an impressive 58 not out. Rich Clarke and Pete Clark shared six wickets for the Outlaws.

Tollerton then made hard work of the small total before passing the winning line for the loss of seven wickets.

A tight game at Thorpe Willoughby saw Ben Johnson score 122-5, indebted to a sixth-wicket stand of 42.

Thorpe's top order had no answer to Steve Wragg and Dave Bell in reaching 49-6. Neil Copsey and Dave Watson turned things around to give Thorpe a chance, but back came Wragg to claim both their wickets to stave off any chance of a Thorpe win.

At Fulfordgate, a patient start by home openers Keith Pepper (42) and Pete Fairburn (49) enabled their team to 141-4. Heworth's Graham Pitts was the main destroyer with 3-43.

Heworth's batsmen never got going until a hard-hitting 31 from James Snedden quickened the tempo. But once he fell the innings collapsed, giving Fulfordgate victory by 33 runs.

Copmanthorpe hosted Wheldrake in a 32-over match. Les Fearn scored the bulk of Wheldrake's runs with 39. John Hughes then carried his bat for 47 not out as Cop ran out seven-wicket winners.

In division one, another dismal batting performance was produced by Bishopthorpe at home to Burn, whose Ashley Abbott took 4-12 to help skittle the hosts for 71.

Burn had David Prime to thank as his 39 not out proved vital in their two-wicket win.

British Sugar were reduced to 27-4 before a stand of 70 got them to 148-8. Mark Bellerby top scored with 60.

John Thornton then kept the Drax batsmen quiet with four wickets as they finished on 130-5.

Tony Kerrison and Nigel Collinson put on 89 for the first wicket for Stockton and Hopgrove at home to Norwich Union. Then wickets tumbled to leave them on 137-6.

In reply, Norwich Union skipper Simon Cook top-scored with 53 but it was left to Gawaine Hogg to hit the winning boundary from the last ball.

Ovington scored their lowest-ever first division total of 34 against Askham Bryan YPO, who duly completed a ten-wicket win.

Division three leaders Burton Salmon's all-rounder Colin Driscoll had a good day, scoring 58 not out in his side's total of 185-7. He then took two Clifton Alliance wickets as support to Adrian Davies' 4-76 from a total of 150-7.

Wistow remain unbeaten in second place thanks to an emphatic ten-wicket win over Huntington. Mick Bell impressed with 7-17 in Huntington's 51 all out.

Askham Bryan YPO just held on against a dogged York University Staff side. David Hughes' unbeaten 53 earned Askham 102-9, while Gordon Finlayson and John Heath mustered eight wickets between them.

All seemed well for the Staff at 85-5 but some kamikaze running and tidy Paul Thornton bowling saw Staff finish on 96 all out.

Malton and Old Malton secured their first victory over Woodhouse Grange. Andrew Anderson bagged 5-29 in Malton's 128 all out, but Grange's batsmen couldn't live with the tight Malton bowling machine and ended up 12 runs short.

There were six Ovington ducks in a total of 67 against Burn, who cruised to an eight-wicket win.

In division four an impressive Drax display saw them amass 191-6, Paul Smith falling one short of a ton. Ben Donkin and Paul Eastwood batted well for Pock but in vain as they were 104 runs adrift at lights out.

Mike Brown starred for Bishopthorpe against Melbourne. His 7-19 yanked Melbourne to 40 all out. Ian Underwod's three wickets were in vain as Bish ran out six-wicket winners.

Mel Neary was in fine fettle again as his 47 not out helped ease Selby past York's 88-7 with seven wickets in hand.

In division five Wheldrake escaped against Malton and Old Malton.

Wheldrake all-rounder Kevin Dent had an eventful day. He claimed two wickets in Malton's 136 all out, Toby Meegan top-scoring with 65.

Then Dent teamed up with youngster Callum Dent in an unbroken stand of 70 to steer Thorpe home by three wickets, the former ending unbeaten on 55.

Updated: 11:33 Thursday, May 29, 2003