THERE was no luck about York's seventh incredible win in a row as two of their most promising teenagers wore Driffield into the ground with a nine wicket Yorkshire ECB County Premier League victory at Clifton Park.
York's Australian all-rounder, Nash Stone, had done his customary bit by hoisting his tally of Yorkshire League wickets to 64 with a 4-74 haul, but it was Stephen Piercy and Simon Mason who stole the show with an unbeaten second wicket partnership of 158 after York had been 30-0 in the 11th over chasing Driffield's 197-8.
Driffield's Aussie, Rod Gibbs, had threatened to steel the limelight by dominating the York bowlers and exploiting the occasional fielding mistake in an innings which occupied 44 overs at the crease.
But Stone conned his fellow country-man Gibbs with a slower delivery to take a neat caught and bowled with Gibbs' score agonisingly poised on 96, just four short of what would have been an entertaining century.
Gibbs had lashed the York bowling to all parts of the park, including two sixes and 13 fours, but there was more good batting to come from the York youngsters.
Mason, the St Aidan's School, Harrogate, student, who has scored over 700 runs in league and cup cricket this season, blasted one of his two sixes over the York clubhouse into the car park and added a dozen boundaries into the bargain.
Yorkshire Under 19 skipper Piercy weighed in with seven fours as part of an unbeaten partnership of 158.
York are now firmly established in fifth place, only two league points behind the one-time favourites to win the title, Harrogate, with the same number of games played.
The match between Harrogate and Sheffield Collegiate, billed as a possible championship decider, ended in frustration for both sides as rain and bad light stopped play at St George's Road with the match delicately poised.
Harrogate stalwart Peter Hepworth (80) and Darren Wyrill (41) enjoyed a century stand for the fourth wicket as optimistic Harrogate set up the biggest total of the day - 251-8.
But play was abandoned with Collegiate's reply on 123-5 after 42 overs, Richard Kettleborough having scored 72 not out.
League leaders Sheffield United beat Rotherham by six wickets with five overs to spare.
Scarborough bounced back after league and cup defeats by York with a 66 run victory at Cleethorpes, who were bowled out for 121 chasing Scarborough's 187 in 55 overs.
Brad Wigney and off-spinner Chris Clifford cleaned up in 32 overs, with returns of 6-45 and 4-27 respectively.
Darren Stephenson scored a century for Hull with Amit Dani supporting with 62 as Hull set the Yorkshire Academy a target of 248. The Academy fell 40 runs short after being 206-9 with three overs to go. Joe Sayers scored a century which included 12 fours.
PICTURE - CLOSE CALL: York wicketkeeper Nigel Durham thrusts out his left arm as Driffield's Mike Drury flicks the ball to the leg side at Clifton Park
Pictures by David Harrison
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