CHAMPIONS Sheriff Hutton Bridge made a disastrous start to the Hunters Estate Agent York and District Senior Indoor Cricket League.

Opening day defeats at the hands of Acomb and Woodhouse Grange leave them with a major struggle to reatain their division one title.

Acomb openers Scott Nicholls and Andy Tute rattled 32 off the first two overs in an Acomb total of 132 for three, Tute ending up with 43 not out.

Grange were in trouble at 12 for three and were eventually all out for 65.

Nicholls made 41 as Acomb posted 114 for six against Sheriff Hutton Bridge. Tute then had Peter Crowder caught in the first over and Bridge were eventually pegged to 84 for three.

Grange's openers Steve Thompson (21) and Mike Burdett (32) were in better form againast Tadcaster Magnet but lack of support meant they reached just 78.

Tyrine Naude led Tadcaster's reply with 27 not out from the top of the order as his side won by four wickets with seven balls to spare.

The final two games had to be trimmed to ten overs per side because of a shortage of time.

Bridge put together 110 for four against Tadcaster but then produced a dismal bowling performance as they donated 22 wides and nine no balls to their oppoennets but were still able to emerge as victors by 24 runs as Tad could make just 86 for five.

Woodhouse Grange then gained a one wicket win off the final delivery of their game against Sheriff Hutton Bridge.

Bridge were all out for 119, five dismissals coming from run outs.

Bridge's bowlers were again inaccurate as they gifted 27 no-balls and wides to Grange whose Mike Burdett (40) and Paul Townsley (37) steered their side to victory.

In the second batch of fictures in division one, Rowntree all-rounder Richard Tuite had a day of mixed fortunes as his side started their campaign with impressive victories over Clifton Alliance 'A' and Stamford Bridge.

Tuite had 20 runs off his first ball when Syd Corley hit two no balls for six and then followed with a third successive six off Tuite's first legitimate delivery.

Tuite then had Corley caught by Nick Sedgewick later in the over and went on to make an unbeaten 26 as Rowntree zipped past Clifton's modest 85 for seven without losing a wicket.

League newcomers Clifton Alliance 'B' had two victories in division two but fellow debutants Pickering suffered three defeats although skipper Andrew Grayson recorded the season's first half-century when he hit 54 against Stillington.

Despite his 54, Pickering could only muster 95 and Stillington soon moved to a match-winning 100 without loss.

Stillington lost to Osbaldwick whose Matt Dunne made 30 and took two for 11 in 2.4 overs.

Dunne was also in good form with an unbeaten 25 in his side's 115 for three against Clifton Alliance 'B'. However, Alliance opener John Bladen hit two fours and a six off successive deliveries to gain a one wicket win with two balls to spare.

Alliance then ran riot against Pickering, smashing 155 for three off 12 overs to set up a 31-run win.

In the final game of the session Pickering were restricted to 8 for five against Osbaldwick who eased to victory at 89 for one.

Updated: 11:39 Tuesday, November 13, 2001