Dunnington seem to be on course to retain their Hunters York and District York Senior League premier division title after their latest maximum points haul saw them open up a 43-point lead over Heworth.

Dunnington made the best of the perceived disadvantage of batting first by taking full batting points at 207-6 and then dismissing Beverley Town for 147.

Simon Kellett top scored for the winners with 76 while skipper Collis King (53) and Hamid Khan (27) supported as Ian Sugden claimed 3-53.

In Beverley's reply, Richard Taylor made 28 and Barry Sayer 31 but John McHale's 4-28 was decisive.

For the third successive year, Thirsk's home fixture with Heworth was played on a rain-affected wicket after a thunderstorm on Friday evening had seen flooding under the covers.

Thankfully the bowlers paradise of the previous two years did not materialise and batsmen had a reasonable day although Martin Sigsworth's 6-38 for the visitors decided the outcome in Heworth's favour.

He was backed up by spinner Mark Bell, who took 3-31, but Thirsk were able to produce a reasonable first innings score of 168 all out with Darren Wyrill making 34 and Keogan Luiters 29.

In reply, Dave Simpson made 50, Mike Brook 35 and Shahid Khan 32 to counter the extensive efforts of Dave Greenlay who strove manfully for 3-75.

Chris Dion's 81 set up an advantage draw for Clifton Alliance against bottom-placed Sheriff Hutton Bridge.

Clifton lost their first three wickets for 51 before opener Dion and Aussie Travis Borlace added 70 for the fourth-wicket. Mike Sinclair took 5-44 in a useful 14-over stint, including Dion, as Clifton reached 198-8.

When the Bridge replied, Steve Crowder (39) and Paul Oldfield (29) offered resistance to James Postill (3-40) and John Hunter (2-27) but it took skipper Mike Smith to stave off defeat as his side closed on 150-8.

At Easingwold, home bowler Tom Langstaff gained the best top-flight bowling figures of the day when his 7-35 saw Pickering dismissed for 160.

The Pikes leading run-makers were Mark Shepherd with 54 and Colin Frank who made 47. Paul Redshaw scored 41 in Easingwold's reply but ex-Sleights player Garry Smith captured 4-20 and left Easingwold hanging on for a draw at 134-9.

Pocklington slipped to the foot of the section when they lost by six wickets at Osbaldwick.

Rod Hinch hit a handy 54 and Dave O'Gram chipped in with 33 but May Monthly Bowling Award winner, Dave Thompson took 3-23 and Dyran Joshi 4-52 to dismiss Pock for 133.

Steve Jackson then led Osbaldwick to victory with 58.

Woodhouse Grange pace ace Kashif Raza had a fine return of 5-44 against Acomb but could not prevent the York side gaining the upper hand in a drawn game at Sutton On Derwent.

Andy Tute and Shanuka Dissanayake each made 33 then Neil Hinde's unbeaten 35 saw Acomb make 174-8.

Raza followed with 25 but Dave Sykes (4-39) was at home on the Grange who were saved from defeat by skipper Mike Burdett who made a defiant 63 not out in his side's 136-7.

Updated: 12:58 Monday, June 17, 2002