TENSION is mounting as the Horwath Pulleyn Heselton York Vale Cricket League season reaches its climax.

This is particularly so in division two where leaders Ovington went down at Kelfield and second placed Hemingbrough were involved in an incredibly tense finish before edging home.

Kelfield struggled to cope with David Whittle, who returned a superb 7-52, but Neil Atkinson (30), Andy Atkinson (34no) and last man Rob Cole (25no) saw them to a reasonable 157-9.

John Sharples made 44 to hold the Ovington innings together against first change bowler Steve Schofield, who took out the top and middle order.

Whittle kept the visitors in the game, but fell along with the rest of the tail to Trevor Ward and Ovington were bowled out for 149.

Hemingbrough put visitors Wilberfoss into bat, but were held up by a second wicket partnership of 73 between Des Healey and Neil Smith. Wilberfoss did manage to add 101 in the second half of the innings to reach 143-7.

Nigel Jackson followed his 6-55 by carrying his bat for 52 for Hemingbrough and shepherding 14-year-old M Hill and James Reeves, aged 13, to the end - winning with three balls to spare.

Westow made a good start at Thixendale with Andy Hawes and Colin Smallwood putting on 51 for the first wicket. David Coverdale's half century saw them to maximum batting points.

Adrian Brader's late entry into the attack reaped immediate rewards with 4-20 and the innings closed at 204-9.

Thixendale slipped to 39-3 before being pulled round by Les Milburn and Brader whose fourth wicket partnership almost took their team into three figures.

However, Smallwood returned three vital wickets as Westow won by five runs.

Pete Fairburn's 59 was the batting highlight of Fulfordgate's 159 against Askham Bryan whose Mark Grewer and Dave Grimbley both took four wickets.

In reply, Askham Bryan were tumbled out for 59 with Ray Dodd and Tim Wheeler also claiming four wickets each.