Burn clung on to defeat Norwich Union in a cliffhanger in the second round of the Horwath Pulleyn Heselton Cup.

Batting first Burn recovered from an indifferent start with Ray Adamson hitting 41 and David Prime 80 in a third-wicket partnership of 74 before both fell to Simon Cook. Simon Morgan chipped in with another three wickets as Burn went on to total 159-8.

NU started brightly but lost both openers at 28 and a further three wickets by the time they had reached 54. Cook and Ran Banerjee staged a rally to open up the game with a stand of 57 but it finally fell into Burn's lap when Steve Goldsborough returned 4-7 from eight overs to give Burn the tie by eight runs.

York Post Office slumped to 16-5 as Bishopthorpe sought an early revenge for last week's league defeat. Derek Gardiner was the initial scourge with 4-14.

Neil Baggaley held the innings together with a gritty 38, carrying his bat in a total of 110-6. Although Bishopthorpe lost wickets regularly, Scott Clapham stood firm with an unbeaten 49 to see his side through to the semi finals.

Their opponents will be Stockton & Hopgrove who bounced back to form with all the top order making runs as they reached 202-24 to beat Thorpe Willoughby.

Burton Salmon and Askham Bryan served up a feast of runs in the third round of the Scothern Construction Cup.

Askham made steady progress when, at 54-2, Peter Wood opened up, hitting 147 and putting on 141 for the third-wicket with Chris Parker.

Needing 257 to win Burton were given the perfect start with Max Driscoll stroking a blissful 140 which visiting skipper Willy Knight described as 'the best hundred I have witnessed in over 30 years associated with the League'.

Along with David Thornton, Driscoll put on 160 for the first wicket but Wood had the last word as his three saw Askham narrowly home. They will play Escrick Park in the semi-final after Park beat Burn by 46 runs.

Tollerton Outlaws posted a good win against Wistow. Ian Jennings and Jamie Middleton rescued Wistow from 5-2 with a partnership of 67 but they were pegged back by Tom Green and Tony Raper. The innings closed at 114 for 7.

Raper and Green stayed in control of the game putting on 59 for the first wicket for the Outlaws, for whom Steve Raper and John Leeming finished the job.

Fulfordgate found the step up to first division standard too steep as they fell to Stamford Bridge in the first round of the Guy Mitchell Cup.

G Flint and P Tonks led the Bridge to 211-5. Neil Pigg shored up the early 'Gate order and a late flourish from Ray Dodd gave then a respectable 132.

A half-century from Paul Thorne and 28 from Mike Jackson helped Clifton to 133-7 at Wheldrake. Matthew Mellor and Alex Renton both claimed three wickets to run through the Wheldrake order as Clifton progressed to the next round.

Woodhouse Grange raced to 172-5 against Stockton & Hopgrove in the first round of the Prendergast Memorial Trophy. Barry Johnson 70no and Peter Edmonson 30no added 83 for the sixth wicket.

In reply Mick Anderson held up one end for the Villagers as wickets fell at the other. When Anderson was dismissed by Danny Izzard for 38 the innings closed around him, Izzard finishing with 3-1 from nine balls.

Stuart Sugden and Mick Cowling compiled a second-wicket partnership of 69 as Tadcaster Magnets reached 143-7 against Heworth. The visitors' reply started woefully as they slid to 27-6 before James Key came on late to polish off the tail with 4-4.

Hit by injuries and holidays Wheldrake put in a spirited performance at Thorpe Willoughby before going down by seven wickets. Skipper Kevin Dent topped the Wheldrake scoring with 21 with Danny Crockford and Alistair North taking three wickets apiece.

Updated: 12:28 Thursday, June 20, 2002