Beverley Town made certain of the first division title with an overwhelming ten-wicket win

over East Riding rivals Driffield.

The Beverley team was presented with the Gilmour and Dean Trophy after the game by League Vice-Chairman Dave Worsnop, who was one of the match

umpires.

Driffield's batsmen were destroyed by a combination of paceman Shaun Lightowler and wickekeeper Ian Goforth. Only Philip Brumfield, who made 33, offered any legitimate resistance as Lightowler claimed 7 for 39 to

earn a place on the leading wicket takers chart with 76 victims in the

season.

He was ably supported by Ian Goforth whose seven catches

may well be a league record. It is certainly the best 'bag' for many years but cannot be confirmed as an all-time record as these are incomplete for wicket-keepers.

After Driffield's demise, Brumfield's cousin, Andy, stroked an unbeaten 45 as the champions marched on triumphantly.

After suffering relegation from the premier division last year by a mere seven points, Pocklington bounded back to the top flight after a nine wicket victory at Carlton Towers.

Towers' opener Stuart Coleman failed in his bid to reach 1,000 runs when his dismissal for 28 left him on the 961-run mark.

It was then Pocklington v Pocklington as Carlton's Jamie Pocklington made 34 but the crucial performance came from Aussie Nathan Job whose best

bowling performance of the season saw him take 6 for 30 to dismiss the host team for 123.

In reply, Pocklington lost just one wicket, that of Ian

Camwell who was dismissed for 43, to leave Shaun Houltham, with 40 no, and Rod Hinch, whose unbeaten 30 completed a fine season for the player.

There was a crunch match at Stamford Bridge where the home team went into their game against Stillington in tenth place with a slender one-point lead over their opponents.

What was expected to be a close game turned into a rout as Stillington's Mohammed Hafeez emulated Collis King's unique

feat last year, also for Stillington, by hitting his sixth century of the

season.

Hafeez and Paul Mosey totally dominated the home bowlers as they put the game beyond Stamford's reach with an unbroken opening stand of 261 in

the 45 overs.

Hafeez's 169no was his third score in excess of 150 and took

his season's run aggregate to 1,323 at an average of 77.82, leaving him 57 runs short of the divisional record set by Bradman Ediriweera in 1999.

Duncombe Park's long serving wicket keeper Anthony Plowman bade an emotional farewell after announcing his retirement from league cricket.

A regular component of the team ever since the Helmsley side joined the league in 1976, he made his exit in memorable fashion by ending his innings with a six and two fours before being given a standing ovation by his team

and spectators.

His team marked his swansong by embarking on one of their famous run riot's and Crayke's bowlers bore the brunt as Park rattled up a massive 303-9.

Zimbabwean Piet Rinke scored 65, while Peter Humpleby made 64. Peter Kent kept up the tempo with 42 before Plowman hit a rapid 33.

Crayke's batsmen made a fine reply as they responded with

229-8. Skipper John Wright made 52, Graeme Dawson 46 and Hutchinson 43.

Dringhouses escaped relegation with a four-wicket win over Sessay.

Mick Kenyon was left one short of 50 wickets when he claimed 5

for 52, as Sessay were pegged to 132-9.

Dringhouses' batsmen Mark Fenton 26 and Chris Evans 33 led the way to a winning 133-6.