ASKHAM Bryan YPO went on a run-rampage against Drax in the first round of the Howarth Pulleyn Hesleton Cup.

Dean Palmer and Andy Sturdy blazed 126 for the opening stand, Sturdy cracking four successive sixes.

Both men scored 85 and received good support from Paul Daniels with 40no.

To their credit Drax never gave up with Kevin Thomas top-scoring with 71, but with Andy Wood taking an economical 3-31, Drax eventually fell 90 runs short.

Elsewhere, rain ruined the bulk of the other ties.

Division two pace-setters Kelfield came a cropper against Fulfordgate in a match reduced to 28 overs a side.

Kelfield reached 116-5 with Neil Atkinson unbeaten on 43 and Pete Buck also scoring 43. Steve Bygott took 2-17 from seven overs.

Keith Pepper then held the Fulfordgate innings together with a spirited 40 as his side won with two overs to go.

Heworth and Burn made a start at Elm Park Way with Burn having Heworth at 94-8 before the rain came.

Tony Moore was left to curse the weather as his 4-35 helped North Duffield reduce Copmanthorpe I to 63-5. Neil Purdy offered the sole resistance battling his way to 20no.

At Bishopthorpe an interesting tie was cut short by the weather. Ben Johnson were cracking along at over four an over with Martin Reynolds well set on 21no with only Colin Markham keeping the batsmen in check with two wickets.

None of the other ties in the round got started.

In the Scothern Construction Cup, a declaration proved costly for York University Staff when they entertained Woodhouse Grange.

Captain Richard Waites and his opening partner Ashley Pike put on 74 before the evergreen Doug Bartle came on and took 3-36. With one eye on the weather, the declaration was made at 155-6, due to the weather, but Bartle and Ben Aked put on 67 for first wicket and runs started to flow. Even John Heath's three wickets could not stop Grange who won with two overs to spare.

Burn had first knock at Drax and began well with Andy Hueston top-scoring with 64, but Drax's bowlers restricted Burn to 132-7. Paul Smith and Ounsley shared six wickets.

Drax then wasted no time in making the runs with Ounsley (38) and a rapid 67no from all-rounder Smith ending the game ten overs early.

Only half a game was possible at Melbourne with Selby I having restricted the home side to 105-9 when the rain arrived.

Acomb thrashed Ovington II at Knavesmire by six wickets. Ovington were skittled out for 68, Mike Walsh helping himself to three wickets. Acomb knocked off the runs for the loss of four wickets with 23 overs to spare.

Tadcaster edged out Malton and Old Malton I in a nail-biting match which was reduced to 30 overs.

Tadcaster scored 141-6 with opener Mick Cowling contributing 45. Alistair Blacklee responded with 42 for Malton, but he had little support from the middle order.

However, tail-enders Adam Morley and Simon Hird put up a brave show for Malton, who fell just four runs short. Russell Madin's excellent figures of 4-14 proved to be the key to Tadcaster's victory.

Malton's second-string didn't fare much better.

They lost at home to Heworth II who were restricted to 118-7, Mark Smith bagging 4-31. However, Malton were shot out for 48 by a combination of Terry Fannan (3-7) and Graham Knott (3-11).

All the other Scothern Construction Cup ties were abandoned.

Updated: 10:30 Thursday, May 22, 2003