Clifton Alliance reduced Easingwold's lead to 35 points in the premier division of Costcutter York and District Senior League when they had a six wicket victory over Woodhouse Grange while Easingwold had a frustrating draw at Whitkirk in a game limited by rain to 31 overs.

The wet weather caused casualties, the second division game at Scarborough being abandoned without a ball bowled and five other games being abandoned in mid-action.

Collis King, who earlier last week had played for the West Indies in the Malcolm Marshall Memorial benefit game, was again in imperious form for Stillington, hitting 129 against Osbaldwick in division two.

Heslington's Nick James might well have clinched the monthly award for bowling with his nine for 25 which destroyed Londesbrough Park.

Cawood's Karl Scott weighed in with eight for 38 as Thorp Arch tumbled to 95 all out in division five.

Driffield gained their first win of the season in the premier division and moved out of the relegation zone when they thumped Heworth by 140 runs.

Heworth's Richard Bowling took five for 54 in 12 overs but Anjur Sondhi's 86 and Phil Woodcock's 68 boosted Driffield to 245 for nine.

Jonathan Fisher then took eight for 51 in 18.3 overs, the best bowling figures by a Driffield player in York Senior League, as Heworth were dismissed for 105.

Mike Burdett made 47 and former Clifton player Simon Dwyer 45 as Woodhouse Grange were dismissed for 157 by Clifton Alliance, whose Joe Southam took four for 37 in 21 overs and Mick Knowles four for 22 in 4.1 overs.

Southam then scored 43, Darren Barton 37 and Rob Taylor 33 for Clifton Alliance before Dave Taylor clinched victory with an unbeaten 25.

Easingwold scored rapidly at Whitkirk in a game limited to 31 overs, reaching 171-4 at Whitkirk. Martin Robinson scored an unbeaten 52, Jonathan Marwood 44 and Matthew Schenke 26. Whitkirk made a comfortable draw at 133 for five, with Robert Horner 51 not out.

Sheriff Hutton Bridge came back from their premier division game at Thirsk without a point after being dismissed for 68. Former Bridge player Barry Petty took four for 25 and Andrew Hawke three for seven. Australian Lincoln McCrae hit an unbeaten 42 as Thirsk cruised to a ten wicket win.

Richard Carew scored 62 and Steve Jackson 39 of Osbaldwick's 183 for nine against Pickering, whose Craig Aconley took four for 36 and Mark Shepherd three for 76.

Osbaldwick skipper Shaun White then took four for 47 and Steve Machen three for 26 as Pickering got a draw at 143 for eight, Kevin Wilson scoring 31.

Acomb maintained their championship hopes with an advantage draw at Pocklington, who have gone to the foot of the table.

Andy Tute led the way with the bat for Acomb, scoring 75. Steve Simpson scored an unbeaten 60 and Richard Sykes 44 in a total of 241 for five. Tute then took three for 34 as Pocklington struggled to 131 for eight.

PICTURE: HIT MAN: Woodhouse Grange batsman Mike Burdett, who went on to score 47, smacks the ball away during their Costcutter York and District Senior League premier division match against Clifton Alliance, who won by six wickets.