Bowlers in charge on rain-hit pitches

With the game between Acomb and leaders Dunnington abandoned without a ball bowled, second-placed Clifton Alliance took advantage to reduce the gap to just eight points by beating Whitkirk.

'Kirk batted first but fared badly as James Postill took six for 48 and Richard Musgrave three for 43 and only a resolute 47 from Matty Tom-lins saw them reach 102 all out.

Young paceman Tom Glover made serious inroads into the Clifton line-up with four for 30 but Tomlins' fellow Aussie, Darren Reeves, made 26 before Duncan Naylor produced a skipper's innings of 27 not out as his side won by five wickets.

Champions Easingwold are recovering from their disastrous start to the season and have moved into sixth place with a 52-run victory over Woodhouse Grange, who find themselves in 11th place after being shot out for just 69.

Batting first, Easingwold struggled against the pace of Lahore-based Sajid Ali who captured six for 40. Martin Piercy played an invaluable innings of 57 not out to enable his side to reach a modest 121 for nine.

This seemingly reachable target presented problems for the Grange, who could only muster 69 as Jason Sargeant captured three for 13 and Paul Skilbeck three for 21.

The two bottom sides met at Ripon where the hosts had a number of absentees, including stalwart Paul Mason, when they entertained Pickering.

Ripon were given a steady start by Peter Squires (36) then Richard Hawley added 26. For Pickering, Tony Evans took four for 42 and Tim Keane three for 36 but a handy 39 not out from Neil Jackson enabled the hosts to reach 157 for nine.

Pickering then lost two wickets, including Brian Leckenby (26), but Colin Frank (68no) and Aussie Keane (39no) joined forces to take their side to an eight-wicket win.

Osbaldwick gained an important draw at Sheriff Hutton Bridge to leapfrog their opponents who were nowhere near reaching their target.

Australians again figured prominently with Osbaldwick's Stuart Boyle making 33 and Bridge's Kieran Rodgers taking three for 67.

Former Brooklands player Mark Thompson cleared the adjacent river with two sixes as he made 68 while Richie Carew (26) helped Osbaldwick to 189 for eight. Mike Smith took three for 72 in an extended spell.

Loughborough College batsman Philip Mellows-Facer then made 32 and skipper Steve Crowder 30 but Steve Machen's 25-over spell proved the telling factor as his four for 51 held the Sheriff side to 109 for eight.

Third-placed Heworth travelled to fifth-placed Thirsk where a comfortable home win saw the teams swap places in the table.

Last season's encounter between the teams was a low scoring affair and this season's match also saw bowlers in command.

Barry Petty gained his best haul of the season of five for 27 and, with Dave Greenlay grabbing three for 12, Heworth missed out on the batting points in being all out for 99.

Thirsk's Aussie, Lincoln McCrae (49), was one of their two wickets to fall while Greenlay completed a satisfying day by making 46 not out to lead his side to an eight-wicket triumph.

Premier Division

Acomb (9pts) drew with Dunnington (9): match abandoned (ground waterlogged - no play).

Clifton Alliance (26) bt Whitkirk (3): Whitkirk 102 (M Tomlins 47, J Postille 6-48, RFT Musgrave 3-43), Clifton Alliance 104-5 (D Reeves 26, D Naylor 27no, T Glover 4-30).

Easingwold (26) bt Woodhouse Grange (4): Easingwold 121-9 (M J Piercy 57no, S Ali 6-40), Woodhouse Grange 69 (J Sargeant 3-13, P Skilbeck 3-21).

Ripon (4) lost to Pickering (27): Ripon 157-9 (P J Squires 36, R Hawley 26, N Jackson 39no, T Keane 3-36, T Evans 4-42), Pickering 161-2 (B Leckenby 26, C Frank 68no, T Keane 39no).

Sheriff Hutton Bridge (6) drew with Osbaldwick (20): Osbaldwick 189-8 (S Boyle 33, M Thompson 68, R Carew 26, M Smith 3-72, K Rodgers 3-67), Sheriff Hutton Bridge 109-8 (P Bellows-Facer 32, S Crowder 30, S Machen 4-51).

Thirsk (26) bt Heworth (1): Heworth 99 (B D Petty 5-27, D Greenlay 3-12), Thirsk 100-2 (L: McCrae 49, D Greenlay 46no).

Division One

Beverley Town (27) bt Dringhouses (5): Dringhouses 127 (J Crowe 28, I Bews 25no, S Lightowler 6-50), Beverley Town 130-7 (T Smith 40, T Fordon 46no).

Carlton Towers (9) drew with Driffield (9): match abandoned (ground waterlogged - no play).

Pocklington (18) drew with Sessay (10): Pocklington 142-8 (I Camwell 40, K Hinch 33, S Langstaff 4-53), Sessay 123-8 (N Harrison 32, C Till 26, M Till 26, N Job 3-41, K Hinch 3-37).

Stamford Bridge (26) bt Wilberfoss (2): Wilberfoss 132-8 (G H Room 39, M Stothard 30, A Day 3-33), Stamford Bridge 134-0 (P Aconley 49no, F Clarkson 68no).

Stillington (18) drew with Crayke (12): Stillington 188-9 (M Hafeez 33, D Herbert 32, D Allitt 29, N Pipes 29no, M Hutchinson 4-89), Crayke 156-5 (D Thomas 56, G Dawson 38, P Carr 25no, M Hafeez 4-35).

York (18) drew with Duncombe Park (11): York 140-9 (S Gorman 36, C Humpley 4-49), Duncombe Park 133-8 (A Pierson 36, P Rinke 29).

Division Two

Bridlington (10pts) drew with Harrogate (20): Harrogate 210-4 (R Durrance 47, J Henderson 40, J O'Brien 35no), Bridlington 163-7 (B Rudd 49, D Watson 40, M Fox 5-47).

Castleford (9) drew with Tadcaster Magnet (9): match abandoned (due to ground conditions - no play).

Hull Zingari (9) drew with Bubwith (9): match abandoned (ground waterlogged - on play).

Rowntree (9) drew with Civil Service (9): match abandoned (rsp - no play).

Whitkirk II (0) lost to Clifton Alliance II (24): Whitkirk II 95-8 (M Murphy 31no, A Wray 4-29, K A Ambrosen 3-29), Clifton Alliance II 96-1 (N Briggs 32no, J Stevens 36, S Corley 26no).

Division Three

Heslington (12) drew with New Earswick (18): New Earswick 150 (A Freeman 25, K Barker 39, M Firth 5-41), Heslington 127-7 (P Neal 45no, R Cockerill 30, J Thornton 25, A Freeman 4-43).

Heworth II (18) drew with Bolton Percy (11): Heworth II 164-8 (AJN Simpson 84, M S Caddie 31, J Green 4-55), Bolton Percy 125-7 (M Butler 40).

Hovingham (20) drew with Cawood (6): Hovingham 199-8 (M Aconley 33, G Pike 91, N Bartram 4-71, R Nicholson 3-72), Cawood 104-8 (R Nicholson 36, J Rounthwaite 5-14).

Malton and Old Malton (18) drew with Selby (5): Malton and Old Malton 161-8 (A Lansley 29, C Hudson 51, G Hall 25no, C Young 4-56, K Lund 3-40) , Selby 68-7 (C Hudson 6-23).

Osbaldwick II (3) lost to Londesbrough Park (27): Londesbrough Park 128-1 (S Dodd 29, S Craven 57no, M Swann 33no).

Woodhouse Grange II (7) drew with Hornsea (21): Hornsea 207-8 (M Johnston 95no, R Medforth 33, D Dales 57, S Anderson 5-51), Woodhouse Grange II 132-9 (R Steel 58, P Reeves 29no, J McKenzie 3-17, J Fisher 3-19).

Division Four

Dringhouses II (9) drew with Thirsk II (9): match abandoned (due to ground conditions - no play).

Dunnington II (6) lost to Acomb II (28): Dunnington II 151 (I Burgess 44, C Burgess 47, D Cooper 34, A Sykes 3-19, J Beech 3-18), Acomb II 152-6 (P Hughes 48, M Dickinson 29, J Byford 42, M Noble 3-18).

Huby (27) bt Sheriff Hutton Bridge II (4): Sheriff Hutton Bridge II 134 (V J Klays 40, D B Ellis 27, T Little 7-44), Huby 135-5 (T Piercy 43).

Huntington (17) drew with Carlton Towers II (5): Huntington 138-8 (C Smith 40, T Boddye 4-57, M Denby 4-39), Carlton Towers II 85-8 (M Denby 34, S Beales 4-38, W I Bayness 4-46).

Thorp Arch & Boston Spa (30) bt Easingwold II (3): Thorp Arch and Boston Spa 221-6 (M Cole 50, C McGhee 96, N Ramsden 25, J Thomson 38no, J Metcalfe 3-67). Easingwold II 42 (N Ramsden 4-19).

Yapham (18) drew with Sheriff Hutton (10): Yapham 223-3 (D Wright 48, T Walker 62, P Barnes 54no, C Clark 41no), Sheriff Hutton 175-3 (A Hull 58, A Johnson 49, B Tompkins 33no).

Division Five

Civil Service II (4) lost to Heslington II (25): Heslington II 94-9 (L Boulton 50, M Thompson 3-43), Civil Service II (M Thompson 25, S Firth 4-28, B Donnelly 5-27).

New Earswick II (27) bt Rowntree II (6): Rowntree 148-8 (C Soulsby 56no, J Routledge 4-52, M Hewitson 3-69), New Earswick II 150-9 (D Winters 40, M Benson 28, D Atkinson 4-41, C Soulsby 4-20).

Pickering II (21) drew with Hovingham II (4): Pickering II 263-3 decl (40 overs) (K Wilson 159, P Rivis 68), Hovingham II 147-8 (M Hemmingway 27, W Curtis 4-43, A Grayson 3-27).

Selby II (9) drew with Stamford Bridge II (9): match abandoned (rsp after 25 overs): Selby II 72-3 (S Whisker 27, P Jolly 25no), Stamford Bridge II did not bat.

Sessay II (29) bt Thorpe Arch and Boston Spa II (4): Sessay II 175-9 (R Ormston 28, I Watkinson 31no, G Casey 3-32), Thorp Arch and Boston Spa II 26 (R Wentworth 6-12, I Watkinson 3-11) .

Tadcaster Magnet II (9) drew with Pocklington II (9): match abandoned (due to ground conditions - no play).

Wilberfoss II (8) lost to Malton and Old Malton II (30): Malton and Old Malton II 231 (J Dunning 84, D Bradshaw 79, N Guyan 7-80), Wilberfoss II 151 (T Cattle 58, D Starkey 25, D Bradshaw 6-36).

Premier Division

P W D L BP Pts

Dunnington 9 6 3 0 59 208

Clifton Alliance 9 5 4 0 63 200

Thirsk 9 3 4 2 55 163

Acomb 9 4 3 2 51 149

Heworth 9 2 4 3 61 142

Easingwold 9 2 4 3 52 126

Whitkirk 9 2 3 4 55 117

Osbaldwick 9 2 3 4 50 115

Sheriff Hutton Br 9 2 5 2 48 112

Pickering 9 2 4 3 58 110

Woodhouse Grange 9 2 2 5 50 107

Ripon 9 1 3 5 33 56

Division One

Beverley Town 9 6 2 1 51 188

York II 9 4 4 1 50 164

Stillington 9 3 4 2 50 140

Crayke 9 3 4 2 55 138

Pocklington 9 2 5 2 50 136

Carlton Towers 9 3 3 3 51 133

Stamford Bridge 9 3 4 2 42 125

Sessay 9 2 5 2 50 125

Driffield 9 0 7 2 59 122

Duncombe Park 9 1 5 3 54 106

Wilberfoss 9 1 5 3 45 82

Dringhouses 9 0 4 5 49 68

Division Two

Hull Zingari 9 5 3 1 50 172

Scarborough 8 4 3 1 52 161

Goole Town 8 4 3 1 51 160

Harrogate II 9 4 2 3 52 149

Bubwith 9 4 3 2 50 145

Tadcaster Magnet 9 3 4 2 52 139

Bridlington 9 3 4 2 52 135

Clifton Alliance II 9 4 0 5 38 118

Rowntrees 9 2 4 3 44 111

Whitkirk II 9 1 5 3 45 97

Castleford 9 1 3 5 39 74

Civil Service 9 0 2 7 36 53

Division Three

Hornsea 9 6 3 0 62 211

Malton & O Malton 9 4 4 1 54 175

Heworth II 8 3 4 1 54 151

Hovingham 9 3 4 2 59 146

Bolton Percy 8 3 3 2 47 129

Londesbrough Park 9 3 4 2 50 126

Heslington 9 2 4 3 52 119

New Earswick 9 2 4 3 44 118

Woodhouse Gr II 9 1 6 2 54 117

Cawood 9 1 5 3 50 101

Selby 9 2 2 5 41 87

Osbaldwick II 9 0 3 6 27 34

Division Four

Huby 9 6 3 0 56 212

Yapham 9 5 4 0 57 198

Sheriff Hutton 9 4 3 2 52 154

Dunnington II 9 4 2 3 51 148

Acomb II 9 2 5 2 55 134

Huntington 9 2 3 4 44 120

Easingwold II 9 3 1 5 46 107

Thirsk II 9 2 4 3 44 107

Thorp Arch & BS 9 2 2 5 48 98

Carlton Towers II 9 1 6 2 41 93

Dringhouses II 9 1 5 3 48 89

Sheriff Hutton Br II 9 1 4 4 37 80

Division Five

Pickering II 8 5 3 0 62 191

Selby II 8 6 2 0 52 182

Tadcaster Magnet II 9 4 5 0 56 175

Sessay II 9 4 3 2 53 169

Malton & O Malton II 8 4 2 2 47 133

Hovingham II 9 4 2 3 43 129

Stillington II 7 3 3 1 46 128

Cawood II 7 4 2 1 35 121

Wilberfoss II 9 3 2 4 49 119

Stamford Bridge II 8 1 7 0 44 116

Bolton Percy II 7 3 1 3 43 108

Rowntrees II 9 1 5 3 46 97

Pocklington II 7 1 4 2 40 83

New Earswick II 8 1 2 5 39 76

Heslington II 8 1 2 5 25 47

Thorp Arch & BS II 7 0 1 6 26 31

Civil Service II 8 0 0 8 16 16

* Tied and abandoned games included with draws