THERE are few better places for batsmen than a fine day at Clifton Park and that was right proved twice over the weekend.

Young opening pair Simon Mason and Stephen Piercy starred first for York in a six-wicket success over Hull on Saturday. Then they continued their in-form onslaught the following afternoon when they helped the Yorkshire League's U21 X1 to a 40-run victory over a spirited Central Yorkshire League in the White Rose Trophy.

If Hull have struggled for runs in recent weeks, they came to York determined to make amends. They won the toss and chose bravely to bat first. The decision appeared to backfire when Robert Flack teased a little movement from the new ball, causing Tony Simpson to edge to Nigel Durham and then trapping dangerous Indian import Amit Dani leg before.

Bill Kirby dropped anchor for an undefeated 79, and got positive support from James Dows. Richard Gilbert bowled with un-rewarded accuracy, as Greg How and the slightly expensive Nash Stone took wickets.

Hull appeared to be getting nowhere fast, but James Fisher had other ideas. His rapid half-century transformed the innings and the visitors were able to take tea sitting on top of 200.

York's reply began explosively. Mike Barrick conceded 37 in just four overs and the Piercy-Mason combination seemed set for a century stand.

It was not to be, but they had done their job. Cavalier Nick Kay missed out on the party, but Mike Mortimer (52), Stone (30no) and the briefly required Dave Catlow ensured a comfortable, maximum points victory.

On Sunday for the Yorkshire League, Piercy will be kicking himself for a momentary lapse of concentration when he'd made 35, but the imperious Mason plundered an exquisite century. James Osmond weighed in with an attractive 63 and the match seemed to have been won.

But their gritty Central Yorkshire League opponents would not lie down, but York's Tom Pringle bowled his leg breaks tidily enough. Piercy, now the most genuine of all-rounders, plied his off-spin with restrictive effect and though the visitors batted well, they were never quite up to speed. The Yorkshire League won by 40 runs and will visit the Bradford League in the semi-final on July 14.

Despite the absence of three front line youngsters, York's scheduled Yorkshire League Cup tie went ahead, but not quite as originally anticipated.

Collegiate are carrying the Yorkshire League flag in both the National Club Championship and the Black Sheep Champions Trophy.

To ease fixture backlog, they played a re-arranged National KO tie with Treeton at Abbeydale and purloined facilities at Worksop College to fulfil their League Cup obligation with a reserve side.

York duly punished their enterprise. Collegiate were put in to bat and struggled through the afternoon to make 128 all out. There were rewards for everyone, the ever-reliable Rob Flack securing a deserved lion's share.

After Nash Stone was cleaned up by Rob Tasker in the first over after tea, with nothing on the board, the rest was a doddle. Ed Senneck (88no) totally dominated a winning, unbroken stand of 132 with Mike Mortimer that catapults York into the semi-finals.

Updated: 13:06 Monday, June 17, 2002