King-sized strides

Dunnington now lead by 11 points with four games to play.

Clifton Alliance's overseas batting star Darren Reeves passed the 50 mark for the seventh time as he closed in on 1000 runs for the season with 75.

That took his tally to 916 but he lacked support.

Joe Grant moved to the 50-wicket landmark when he took 3 for 71, while John McHale 2-21 and King 3 for 45 also posed problems, Clifton's innings closing at 164-9. When Dunnington replied Simon Kellett was dismissed for 34 as John Hunter claim-ed 2 for 30 but King was in imperious form.

Thirsk bowling star Barry Petty moved to 56 wickets for the season when he took 5 for 56 at Acomb.

Duminbda Perera top scored for the home side with 44. But with Thirsk skipper Dave Green-lay aiding Petty with 3 for 41 Acomb were dismissed for 172.

Thirsk were then taken to a six-wicket win by Neil Stevenson who made 71 and Des Wyrill who hit 60.

Struggling Whitkirk gave themselves a glimmer of hope of survival with a four-wicket win at Heworth, where skipper Craig Shipton (42no) saw them home.

His Heworth counterpart Dave Simpson made 38 but Tom Glover 3-26 and Robert Horner 3-32 had the hosts reeling at 110-8 before number ten Martin Sigsworth made an unbeaten 21 to improve the score to 156 all out.

Horner followed with 25 and Grant Galloway added 41 while Graham Hayward took 3-54.

Woodhouse Grange, whose over per hour run rate is by far the worst in the league, failed to learn a lesson from the previous week and found their game abandoned by bad light for the second time in succession.

The Grange showed a marked lack of urgency in only bowling 41 of their overs in the first three hours with Osbaldwick reaching 184-8.

For the hosts, Steve Jackson made 33 and Richie Carew 40 while Graham Smith claimed 3 for 33. In reply, Nick Hadfield made 46 and Phil Stothard moved to 76no in the gathering gloom with Woodhouse poised for a sprint to victory on 146-3 when the umpires called the players off for bad light.

Pickering eased their relegation worries when they gained a good win over Easingwold thanks to a 177-run third-wicket stand by Colin Frank and Tim Keane.

Easingwold's overseas player Damon Smith made his sixth score in excess of 50 when he hit 53, which was matched by captain Martin Robinson. With Martin Piercy weighing in with 37 Easingwold reached 198-9.

Ady Boyes, with 4 for 24, and Smith (3-32) were Pickering's most successful bowlers. Dan Copeland (3-80) then made early inroads into the home batting line-up before Frank, who made 89 and Keane, who hit 79, came together for a crucial match-winning partnership en route to 199-4.

Ripon's relegation fate is virtually assured following their narrow defeat at the hands of Sheriff Hutton Bridge who desperately needed a win to boost their chances of avoiding the drop.

Sixteen-year-old Tom Leeming made 41no as the Citizens found Paul Oldfield in good bowling form.

Rich Hawley and Andy Frost, who both made 25, helped the home cause but Oldfield's 5 for 47 held Ripon to 162-9.

This modest score soon assumed gigantic proportions as two wickets from Paul Mason and one for Tom Leeming had the first three Bridge batsmen out before a run was scored.

Oldfield then found an ally in Peter Crowder. Oldfield tallied 53 and Crowder a handy 37.

Nevertheless Paul Mason, with 5-34, kept the pressure on but Mike Smith then played his best innings of the season as he gained a thrilling win.

With the scores level, he hit the final delivery for six to end unbeaten with 30 as the Bridge won by the margin of just one wicket.

Premier Division

Acomb (5) lost to Thirsk (28). Acomb 172 (D Perera 44, N Hinde 35, J Byford 26, B D Petty 5-56, D Greenlay 3-41), Thirsk 174-4 (N Stevenson 71, D C Wyrill 60, R A Clayton 2-22).

Dunnington (27) bt Clifton Alliance (5). Clifton Alliance 164-9 (D Reeves 75, J Grant 3-71, J McHale 2-21, C L King 3-45), Dunnington 168-4 (S A Kellett 34, C L King 81no).

Heworth (6) lost to Whitkirk (28). Heworth 156 (D A Simpson 38, T Glover 3-26, R Horner 3-32, M E Sigsworth 21no), Whitkirk 158-6 (C Shipton 42no, R Horner 25, G Galloway 41, G Hayward 3-54).

Osbaldwick (11) drew with Woodhouse Grange (11) - Match abandoned (Bad light after 42.2 overs). Osbaldwick 184-8 (S Jackson 33, R Carew 40, G Smith 3-33), Woodhouse Grange 146-3 (P Stothard 76no, N Hadfield 46).

Pickering (28) bt Easingwold (6). Easingwold 198-9 (M Robinson 53, D Smith 53, M Piercy 37, G Smith 3-32, A J Boyes 4-24).

Pickering 199-4 (C Frank 89, T B Keaane 79, D Copeland 3-80).

Ripon (7) lost to Sheriff Hutton Br. (27). Ripon 162-9 (R Hawley 25, T Leeming 41no, A Frost 25, P Oldfield 5-47), Sheriff Hutton Br. 168-9 (P Oldfield 53, P A Crowder 37, M Smith 30no, P Mason 5-34).

Division One

Crayke (28) bt Stamford Bridge (5). Stamford Bridge 160 (J Heatherton Jnr 46, M I Hutchinson 8-64), Crayke 164-5 (G G A Dawson 50, G Graham 56no, N Porteous 4-35).

Dringhouses (6) lost to Driffield (27). Dringhouses 168-9 (J Crowe 40, A Kenyon 25, S Lazenby 7-63). Driffield 169-7 (P A Woodcock 67, M Tennant 31, K McGuiness 4-43).

Duncombe Park (27) bt Wilberfoss (6). Duncombe Park 126 (P Humpleby 33, K Davison 3-24, M P Stothard 4-29), Wilberfoss 104 (M P Stothard 43, P Wilkie 4-35, P Richardson 3-20, D Luck 3-7).

Pocklington (20) drew with Beverley Town (11). Pocklington 217-7 (D O'Gram 76, R Hinch 59, S Lightowler 4-57), Beverley Town 164-6 (J Mitchell 47 P Parnaby 28, R Foster 3-41).

Sessay (20) drew with Carlton Towers (12). Sessay 201-8 (N Harrison 60, M C Till 33, R J Till 48, C Pitts 3-59), Carlton Towers 162-6 (D Graves 46, M Graves 54no, R J Till 3-36)

Stillington (20) drew with York (12). Stillington 260-5 (M Hafeez 127no, P D Mosey 42), York 230-6 (A Kay 71, B O'Donovan 30, M Bellerby 52).

Division Two

Bubwith (4) lost to Scarborough (27). Bubwith 134 (G Moore 53, E H Smith 42, C R E Harrison 8-55), Scarborough 135-4 (J Harrison 36, C Dove 48no, C Cameron 3-36).

Castleford (13) drew with Bridlington (19). Bridlington 189 (W Oliphant 38, E Pockley 58, G McHale 33, P Wainwright 4-49, C Hopkinson 4-54), Castleford 164-7 (S Medley 51, C Jackson 33, A Kirk 34, W Hall 3-38).

Clifton Alliance II (6) lost to Goole Town (27). Clifton Alliance II 151-8 (S Corley 41, D England 4-43), Goole Town 153-6 (A Gibbins 44, M Ship 32).

Harrogate (29) bt Civil Service (5). Harrogate 192-7 (P Hampshire 56, R Kneller 45, D Randall 4-54), Civil Service 138 (M Bradley 52, M Fox 4-40, W Hagan 3-39).

Tadcaster Magnet (3) lost to Rowntrees (26). Tadcaster Magnet 103 (R Hill 25, D Lord 41, P A Horner 7-55), Rowntrees 104-4 (G Capelin 40no, G Coe 4-19).

Whitkirk II (2) lost to Hull Zingari (26). Whitkirk II 106 (T Clark 35, A Markham 5-10), Hull Zingari 110-2 (M Knowles 58).

Division 3

Bolton Percy (29) bt Selby (3). Bolton Percy 179-3 (N Lister 35, C Thacker 61, H Hall 36), Selby 132 (R Douthwaite 3-29, C Beeley 4-29).

Cawood (4) drew with Malton & O Malton (21). Malton & O Malton 221-5 (N Johnson 66, G Johnson 80, A Raines 57, N Bartram 3-60), Cawood 117-8 (S Baxter 48, G Heaps 27, D Foxton 5-42).

Hornsea (20) drew with Heslington (6). Hornsea 251-6 (G Martinson 91, D Presscott 74, R Webster 22), Heslington 147-6 (M Fratson 36, J Myers 32, M S Johnston 5-35).

Hovingham (21) drew with Heworth II (6). Hovingham 206-9 (P Ryan 39, N Elliott 44, R Brown 69no, C J Dunnington 6-38), Heworth II 104-9 (G D Hogben 31, R Brown 5-27).

Londesbrough Park (6) lost to New Earswick (27). Londesbrough Park 125 (P Curtis 29, P Stimpson 7-46), New Earswick 129-8 (J Routledge 41, A James 37, P Curtis 3-53).

Woodhouse Grange II (25) bt Osbaldwick II (0). Osbaldwick II 58 (A Quinn 3-6, P Nolton 3-8), Woodhouse Grange II 59-1 (D Langton 26no).

Division Four

Carlton Towers II (25) bt Dunnington II (1). Dunnington II 60 (S Boddye 6-23, T Boddye 3-19), Carlton Towers II 61-2 (J Dilks 22no).

Easingwold II (8) drew with Yapham (21). Yapham 204 (P Barnes 111, C Clark 28, T Smith 5-27, G Rees 4-83), Easingwold II 125-8 (R Skilbeck 31).

Huntington (29) bt Dringhouses II (4). Huntington 175-9 (S Beales 28no, D Willis 39, D Todd 4-56, J Lohan 3-43), Dringhouses II 61 (M Hayter 33, S Beales 6-36, W I Baynes 4-23).

Sheriff Hutton Br II (3) lost to Sheriff Hutton (28). Sheriff Hutton 164-6 (A Hull 43, C Woolsey 36, P S Glabes 3-60), Sheriff Hutton Br II 89 (C Walls 27, M Faith 4-13).

Thirsk II (27) bt Acomb II (2). Acomb II 133 (M Dickinson 28, A Young 5-50), Thirsk II 136-1 (M Wainwright 49no, J Harper 70no).

Thorp Arch & B.S. (25) bt Huby (2). Huby 62 (S Raines 6-18), Thorp Arch & B.S. 63-5 (R Williams 30).

DivisionFive

Civil Service II (21) drew with Pocklington II (4). Civil Service II 235-6 (D Hanley 48, C Rundle 95, M Harrison 3-82), Pocklington II 98-9 (C Forsdyke 28, D Gamble 30, J Winfield 4-15).

Heslington II (27) bt Bolton Percy II (7). Bolton Percy II 175-7 (J Hodge 92), Heslington II 178-6 (Z Sakander 35, J Winspear 27, A Parkes 29, L Boulton 25, D White 3-38).

Malton & O Malton II (25) bt Stillington II (1). Stillington II 90 (P Dalton 27, Jim Dawson 4-31, S Fieldsend 3-5, J Dunning 3-16), Malton & O Malton II 93-2 (A Blacklee 28no, J Dunning 28no).

New Earswick II (2) lost to Tadcaster Magnet II (26). New Earswick II 114 (K Wakefield 4-28, J Mort 4-34), Tadcaster Magnet II 116-2 (R Cattle 61, D Colquhoun 30no).

Rowntrees II (19) drew with Thorp Arch & B.S. II (13). Rowntrees II 173 (D Atkinson 44, S Massheder 3-19), Thorp Arch & B.S. II 150-9 (M Fraser 29, S Massheder 25, S Ball 37, D Atkinson 3-49).

Selby II (21) drew with Cawood II (11). Selby II 201-6 decl. (43 overs (I Armstrong 85, J Still 43, R Firth 33, H Steen 4-69), Cawood II 154-8 (R W S Paddison 41, H Steen 67, J Romans 3-19, J Burrans 4-53).

Stamford Bridge II (27) bt Hovingham II (5). Hovingham II 157-9 (M Hemmingway 32, M Beckett 3-58, M Raikes 3-27), Stamford Bridge II 158-4 (D Chaplin 78, M Beckett 44no).

Wilberfoss II (0) lost to Pickering II (25). Wilberfoss II 44 (A Grayson 7-17), Pickering II 45-0 (K Wilson 36no).

Premier Division

P W D L BPts Ttl

Dunnington 18 9 9 0 133 414

Clifton Alliance 18 10 7 1 130 403

Thirsk 18 8 5 5 107 316

Easingwold 18 5 8 5 115 286

Acomb 18 5 9 4 111 272

Woodhouse Grange 18 5 8 5 110 267

Heworth 18 3 8 7 111 246

Pickering 18 4 9 5 118 245

Sheriff Hutton Br 18 4 10 4 109 245

Osbaldwick 18 4 7 7 103 235

Whitkirk 18 3 6 9 116 209

Ripon 17 2 6 10 81 135

Division One

Beverley Town 18 10 5 3 106 352

Pocklington 18 5 11 2 113 324

Crayke 18 8 6 4 115 315

York II 18 8 6 4 105 309

Carlton Towers 18 7 6 5 106 283

Sessay 18 4 11 3 114 276

Dringhouses 18 4 8 6 114 254

Driffield 18 2 11 5 115 248

Duncombe Park 18 2 11 5 115 234

Stillington 18 3 8 7 107 222*

Stamford Bridge 18 5 7 6 84 214

Wilberfoss 18 2 6 10 80 142

*Stillington deducted 12 points for breach of junior bowling

Division Two

Hull Zingari 18 11 6 1 114 392

Goole Town 18 10 6 2 114 361

Scarborough 18 6 11 1 123 322

Harrogate II 18 9 5 4 112 316

Bridlington 18 4 9 5 114 270

Bubwith 18 5 7 6 101 264

Castleford 18 3 9 6 107 240

Tadcaster Magnet 18 4 7 7 93 236

Rowntrees 18 4 9 5 97 232

Clifton Alliance II 18 5 5 8 98 222

Whitkirk II 18 1 10 7 85 158

Civil Service 18 1 6 11 78 134

Tied and abandoned games included with draws

Division Three

Hornsea 18 11 6 1 119 397

Malton & O Malton 18 6 10 2 118 337

New Earswick 18 7 6 5 109 307

Hovingham 18 6 9 3 120 306

Heslington 18 5 10 3 114 277

Woodhouse Grange II 18 2 12 4 116 271

Londesbrough Park 18 7 6 5 99 261

Heworth II 18 4 10 4 101 243

Bolton Percy 18 5 6 7 105 242

Cawood 18 3 10 5 101 212

Selby 18 3 4 11 83 166

Osbaldwick II 18 1 7 10 67 117

Division Four

Yapham 18 11 6 1 114 399

Huby 18 10 4 4 107 348

Sheriff Hutton 18 8 6 4 110 314

Dunnington II 18 9 3 6 103 312

Huntington 18 8 4 6 99 300

Acomb II 18 6 8 4 107 288

Sheriff Hutton Br. II 18 2 9 7 97 220

Easingwold II 18 5 4 9 95 210

Dringhouses II 18 3 9 6 98 202

Thirsk II 18 4 7 7 79 189

Carlton Towers II 18 3 8 7 84 186

Thorp Arch & B.S. 18 3 4 11 88 164

Division Five

Pickering II 16 12 4 0 118 399

Tadcaster Magnet II 17 10 6 1 115 359

Sessay II 17 10 3 4 101 337

Selby II 16 9 5 2 105 324

Malton & O Malton II 16 8 4 4 102 285

Stamford Bridge II 16 6 9 1 84 266

Bolton Percy II 16 5 6 5 108 262

Pocklington II 16 4 10 2 96 246

Stillington II 17 5 5 7 101 233

Hovingham II 17 6 3 8 87 225

Rowntrees II 17 4 7 6 90 225

Cawood II 16 5 6 5 75 208

Wilberfoss II 16 3 5 8 74 162

New Earswick II 16 3 3 10 75 153

Civil Service II 16 2 2 12 58 122

Heslington II 17 2 5 10 57 106

Thorp Arch & B.S. II 16 1 5 10 64 101