DARREN Gough's rehabilitation overshadowed events at Clifton Park, York, on Saturday where the England pace man's recuperating knee was the centre of attention.

After an initial spell of four fairly uneventful overs, the Yorkshire star returned with a couple of wickets late in the day to finish with 2-14 to help the Academy to an incomplete win over York.

Marcus Wood, standing in for Nigel Durham, won the toss and York chose to bat first.

Simon Mason departed quickly, edging Nick Thornicroft to wicket-keeper Harry Anderson.

Stephen Piercy and Nick Kay, unfazed by the Academy's initial pace onslaught, dropped anchor and their 50 partnership was just threatening to blossom further when off spinner Dan Broadbent was introduced.

He trapped Piercy lbw and clean bowled a strangely subdued Mike Mortimer.

Ed Senneck, elevated from the second team, earned his spurs. He stayed with Kay for most of a productive afternoon until he hoisted Broadbent to Thornicroft three short of a deserved half century. Kay kept going but Gough was destined for the last word.

The Test man's vast experience thwarted both Kay's search for three figures - he finished with 91 - and York's hopes of quick runs at the death. Kay's demise, a frustrated heave, stayed aloft long enough for glove man Anderson to cover 20 yards and take the catch. If the Academy were slightly unhappy at their performance in the field, York's 207-6 on an excellent pitch was barely par for the course, especially with Greg How missing from the attack.

Wood made a bold decision after tea, giving the new ball to leg-spinner Tom Pringle. Initially, it brought no reward and Wood's rotating efforts to keep a tight ship were thwarted as much by sloppy ground fielding as the bowlers' errant line.

Furthermore, Andrew Gale was in imperious form, carrying on from a century last week, while James Chervak, from Ashville College in Harrogate, showed immense promise. But Pringle, returning for a second spell, teased errors from both and Whitby-based Chris Batchelor as well.

When Wood himself secured an lbw against Tab Bhatti and Gough's explosive sojourn with James Ward was ended similarly by Robert Flack, York were back in the game.

However, Ian Dews, the former York skipper who now leads the Academy side, then took calm control and led the undergraduates to a five-wicket success.

Yesterday, York suffered the backlash of league leaders Doncaster's previous day's mauling by Sheffield United.

York chose to bat first and were soon in trouble as young pace man Andrew Parkin-Coates cleaned up both Mason and Kay in his opening spell.

Piercy was going well until he became the first of three scalps for Richard Gilliatt in a six-over burst that cost just 12 runs.

From there it was downhill all the way until Mortimer, top scorer Flack and John McGrady staged something of a revival. But even their best efforts couldn't push York beyond a modest 172-9 when the overs ran out.

When Doncaster batted, former county man Simon Widdup was soon into his stride. Richard Gilbert was slightly expensive but picked up prolific Gareth Dawson and talented Andrew Chadwick. McGrady had an excellent evening behind the stumps, but Ashley Fiddler, another quality youngster, batted well and York were forced to ring the changes.

Eight men in total turned their arms and Kay, the last of them, filed the best return. It didn't stop Doncaster strolling to a five-wicket success.

Harrogate are well and truly on course to mount a serious league title challenge after successive full ration victories at Barnsley on Saturday and against Driffield at St George's Road yesterday.

Barnsley were removed for just 146, the wickets being shared equally between Khaled Hussain-Butt, Dave Crowther and Chris Kippax.

Mark Broadhurst got rid of prolific Harrogate openers John Inglis and Alexis Twigg in quick succession, but the visitors went on to secure a comfortable six-wicket victory thanks to Andrew Siddall's elegant 67.

Harrogate hustled out Driffield for just 159 yesterday and secured a nine-wicket success.

This time it was Hussain and Dave Pennett who shared the wickets as Aussie Rod Gibbs (69) tried to hold the Driffield innings together.

After tea, it was one-way traffic as Twigg (84 not out) and Peter Hepworth (31) steered Harrogate home.

Scarborough bounced back to form at Rotherham on Saturday as tidy bowling from Will Mallory (4-46), Chris Clifford (2-45) and Ryan Swiers (2-43) reduced the home side to 173.

Then Clint Heron and Darren Harland shared an unbroken opening stand that led to a ten-wicket victory.

Scarborough were involved in a six-point thriller at Cleethorpes yesterday. The Lincolnshire side posted a substantial 242-2 as overseas man Shane Deitz (143) blasted his third century of the summer.

But Scarborough, set on the way by Harland (91) and Nick Tubbs (62), stole home with three wickets in hand and just one ball to spare.

Despite yesterday's success over York, Doncaster have been toppled from the league leadership after being trounced by Sheffield United on Saturday.

United also took maximum points at home to Barnsley on Sunday. They hold top spot and have a game in hand. Harrogate have moved up to share second place, while title holders Sheffield Collegiate, despite a couple of blips, are still in the frame.

Castleford's revival continues with home and away maximum point successes against Cleethorpes and Rotherham respectively. Bottom club Driffield were overjoyed on Saturday to roll over luckless Hull for just 72 and stroll home by eight wickets.

Two wins for Yorkshire Academy has significantly advanced their cause. They contest fourth place with Collegiate.

Updated: 13:26 Monday, June 24, 2002