Burythorpe retained the first division of the Horwath Pulleyn Heselton York Vale League in Championship style for the third successive year when defeating Stockton & Hopgrove.

Batting first they ran up a formidable 251 for 6 due mainly to a fourth-wicket partnership of 129 between Steven Towse,who fell for 47, and 97 to Andrew Milner off a mere 65 balls who was caught behind when going for yet another big hit.

Tony Kerrison took both these wickets, while, despite the carnage, James Wigby was most impressive in taking 3 for 36 in 15 overs.

Stockton never recovered from the loss of Tony and David Kerrison with only five runs on the board against the ever reliable Milner and Mark Fairweather. Phil Hill mopped up the tail with 4 for 28.

York will finish as runners up having beaten Norwich Union by six wickets.

Batting first NU were held to 162 for 9, although at one stage a much bigger total looked possible as Simon Cook was scoring freely.

Sean Hunter (4 for 21) came on late in the innings and whipped out the middle order, including Cook for 60.

Hunter did not let the loss of partners worry him as he scored freely and Andrew Dee continued with some rapid scoring as York raced to their target in just 25 overs.

Hemingbrough batted well against Ovington and the bonus points they obtained will probably be sufficient for them to retain their first division status.

Nigel Jackson (65) and Chris Topping (59) provided the bulk of their 181 for 5, while Graham Haigh took 3 for 75 and John Sharples 2 for 50.

The usual explosive start from Sharples, eventually bowled by Richard Seels for 88, was matched by a classy unbeaten 67 from Andy Holmes as Ovington romped home with 11 overs to spare.

Drax were duly confirmed as champions of division two when Thixendale, beset by harvest blues, were unable to field a side and so now find themselves in thick of the relegation battle with Kelfield and Westow.

York Post Office are second after a formidable bowling performance in which they dismissed Kelfield for 48.

The Post Men lost three wickets to Andy Atkinson before winning. A win at Westow next week will see them promoted.

Fulfordgate are also in with a chance of promotion after running up 213 for 6 at Wheldrake, where there was a fine century from Keith Pepper, his second of the season.

Wheldrake lost wickets in batches, with 4 falling for 15 runs leaving them 57 for 5 and the other five when seemingly well placed at 146 for 5. The damage was done by Steve Bygott (3 for 54) and Paul Brown (5 for 23).

There was another century as Clive Heaton reached his maiden ton in the last over in British Sugar's 220 for 5 against Westow. Along with Simon Taylor they posted an opening partnership of 101, while Colin Smallwood took 3 for 60 from his 14 overs.

The Westow reply was propped up by Dave Midgley (45 not out) against Paul Wynn (5 for 30) and Andy Heaton (3 for 29).

The win leaves Sugar fourth and ready to take any advantage of any slip ups either of the two teams above them may make.