For the second week running York added to the turmoil that has gripped the top four places in the Yorkshire ECB County Premier League.

After helping to knock Sheffield United off the top perch the previous week, it was Harrogate's turn to suffer the same treatment at the hands of York who set Gate a target of 237-8.

Harrogate were dismissed for 199 in 58 overs leaving their title hopes in some doubt.

After losing the toss, York made the worst possible start when their opening left hander, Marcus Wood, was dismissed fourth ball poking a low catch 20 yards to John Inglis at point.

Steve Piercy, who had scored just two, fell lbw for Anthony Burton's second wicket with the York score on 24 in the seventh over.

The adversity worked wonders for the York team, however, as Simon Mason and Nick Kay put on a century for the next wicket.

Some 32 overs later, Kay with his score on 51, was caught behind by Harrogate's wicket keeper, Ryan Bradshaw, off Dave Pennett, whose reaction was the sort of behaviour that gets cricket a bad name.

Ten overs later, with the York batsmen now in the driving seat, Mason hooked a catch off Burton (4-78) to Clemerson at long-on, Mason having top scored with 85.

York's score finally ended at 237-8 which was to produce the necessary pressure on the Harrogate batsmen.

Their skipper, John Proud, was needlessly run out on 23 going for a third run with Harrogate's score on 46 in the sixteenth over with a brilliant long range return from Nash Stone.

Inglis (69) and Vic Craven (48) fought hard to swing the game in Harrogate's favour.

They made a century stand for the second wicket in 29 overs, but the departure of Inglis signalled a wickets 'landslide' as seven fell for 40 runs in the last 15 overs with Stone ending with 5-36 in his second spell of seven overs after 0-20 in his first ten over spell.

Rob Lancaster bowled 14 overs for a return of 3-60 which included the wickets of danger-man Inglis, Pennett cockily attempting a sweep off his first ball for a duck and Clemerson was clean bowled for three.

York's skipper, Nigel Durham, hailed the victory as a tribute to the excellent team spirit of his side which he claims to be "the best team spirit in the Yorkshire League".

Harrogate's shock defeat and that of Sheffield United by Doncaster sees Sheffield Collegiate take over pole position with Doncaster one point behind in second place.

At Barnsley, Scarborough's opening bat, Mark Cowel,l scored his third century of the season - 101 off 158 deliveries, his innings including nine fours.

Boro raced to 254-5 with Darren Harland's 87 being his highest score in the league, Cowell and Harland putting on 143 for the second wicket.

Barnsley, however, hung on to force a draw at 210-6 despite 3-73 and 3-102 from Brad Wigney and Chris Clifford.

Former York skipper Ian Dews, now with The Yorkshire Academy, scored 129 against Appleby Frodingham who were bowled out for 217, Yorkshire hitting back with 218-8 with two balls to spare in a knife edge finish.

A 19-year-old Yorkshire League batting record was broken on Saturday when Stuart Cox and Dave Page put on 137 runs for the seventh wicket for Hull against their visitors, Castleford, at The Circle.

The previous record of 125 was set by Steve Nicholson and Neil Wilson for Rotherham against Doncaster in the days when the duration of Yorkshire League games was 100 overs as opposed to 120 now.

Cox included fifteen fours setting up one of the top totals in the league of 116. Matthew King scored the fastest fifty off 37 balls in 42 minutes for United against Doncaster

John Davies took seven Rotherham wickets for 31 in sixteen overs helping to destroy Rotherham's batting for 88 in 37.4 overs, after Cleethorpes's had set a target of 227-7.

LATEST POSITIONS: Sheffield Collegiate 77pts from 14 games, Doncaster 76-15, Harrogate 72-15, Sheffield United 68-15, Yorkshire Academy 67-16, Cleethorpes 61-16, York 60-15, Scarborough 59-16, Hull 51-15, Castleford 45-14, Appleby-Frodingham 44-14, Driffield 34-15, Rotherham 23-14, Barnsley 23-15.

RESULTS AND TABLES

YORKSHIRE ECB COUNTY PREMIER LEAGUE

YORK v HARROGATE

York: M Wood c Inglis b Burton 2, S Piercy lbw Burton 2, S Mason c Clemerson b Burton 85, N Kay c Bradshaw b Pennett 51, N Stone b Burton 57,M Mortimer c&b Hepworth 11, E Senneck b Hepworth 0, G How not out 20, N Durham c Wyrill b Hepworth 0, R Gilbert not out 1, Extras 9, Total (8wkts) 237.

Bowling: A Burton 15-3-78-4, D Pennett 15-2-33-1, P Hepworth 23-3-83-3, N Louden 7-0-31-0.

Harrogate: J Inglis c Wood b Lancaster 69, J Proud run out 23, V Craven lbw Stone 48, P Hepworth c&b Stone 3, D Wyrill b Stone 5, R Bradshaw b Stone 15, P Hampshire b Stone 4, D Pennett b Lancaster 0, S Clemerson b Lancaster 3, A Burton lbw How 11, N Louden not out 0, Extras 17, Total 198.

Bowling: R Gilbert 5-0-19-0, G How 22.3-2-66-1, N Stone 17-2-36-5, R Lancaster 14-0-60-3.

York (8pts) beat Harrogate (0pts) by 38 runs.

Umpires: A Pawson & I Oakes

PICTURE: A SURVIVOR: York batsman Nick Kay looks back to ensure his tenure at the crease will continue against Harrogate