ROWNTREES snatched an unlikely division two victory over Hovingham to pouch their first 30 point reward of the season when the home side had seemed to be heading for a comfortable draw.

Stef Cockerill and Richard Tuite were joint top scorers with 47 for the 'Confectioners' while skipper Sean Marshall made 35 to help his side to 200-8.

Useful knocks from Alistair Thorpe 27, Stuart Prest 37 and Jonty Rounthwaite 36 then seemed to have ensured a draw for Hovingham. However, Paul Horner then took the game by storm as he wreaked havoc by taking the final five wickets in three overs to close with 6-64.

Hovingham entered the final over with two wickets intact but lost their ninth man when Marshall took a slip catch then Horner sent his team-mates into ecstasy by hanging on to a return catch of the penultimate delivery as Hovingham were all out for 166.

Carlton Towers cemented their divisional dominance with an overwhelming victory over second placed Castleford.

Carlton batting star Stuart Coleman continued the dominance over the Castleford bowlers which had seen him hit an unbeaten 105 in his team's midweek Beaumont Cup victory over Castleford first XI by hitting an unbeaten 136. He reached three figures despite a temporary retirement through injury.

Coleman has now made 594 runs in the league and can boast an average of 118.80 at the half way stage.

Jamie Pocklington added 37no and ex Fishlake player Jason Schmidt 26 as Carlton reached 232-6.

After this run feast, Castleford's batsmen may well have fancied their chances but their first nine wickets were swept away for a paltry 20 runs. With a defeat in excess of 200 runs staring them in the face, Castleford's last pair embarked on a face-saving exercise and were able to add 62 runs until Ian Shackleton was dismissed for 51 to leave Mick Bourke unbeaten with 10 as the visitors were all out for 82 and losers by 150 runs.

Carlton's demon bowlers were Robert Haw, who took 5-25, and Schmidt, who had 4-27, and their side now enjoys a 45 point cushion at the top of the division.

Bottom club Osbaldwick had a disastrous day when they entertained second placed Bubwith, being shot out for only 27 as Marcus Bellerby claimed five wickets for just two runs and Nick Pratt took 3 for 4. Bubwith then recorded a nine wicket win to gain 25 points.

Clifton Alliance II are making a determined bid to become the first second eleven to achieve division one status; their advantage draw at Bridlington leaving them seven points behind second placed Bubwith.

Half centuries from Paul Atkinson (68) and youngster Nathan Briggs (51) enabled Clifton to reach 189-5 while Alastair Kirk was Bridlington's most successful bowler with 4-47.

When the league newcomers replied, Andy Thornton made 48 and Greg Hird 31 but Mick Pickering 4-26 and Alistair Wray 3-33 had Brid hanging on at 151-9.

Harrogate lost a little ground when they had the worst of a draw against Woodhouse Grange, the result being Woodhouse's tenth draw in eleven outings.

Harrogate's Dan Longhurst took 6 for 52 but everyone in the Woodhouse side chipped in to enable them to make 170-7. Jeremy Henderson led Harrogate's reply with 53 but they too had to look to their last pair to hold on for a draw at 115-9 as Ashley Quinn took 5 for 38 and Peter Nolton 4-32.

An unprofitable day for the east coast sides saw Scarborough suffer a two wicket defeat at North Marine Road as Collis King and Aussie Dwayne Field led Stillington to victory.

Rob Harrison was Scarborough's main contributor to their 140-8 with 48 but Dwayne Field gained the upper hand with 5 for 36.

King then shared an opening stand of 109 for Stillington with youngster Ben Milburn, who fell for 30. Scarborough skipper Paul Harrand then took 3 for 42 but King's 81 was decisive and enabled Stillington to win by five wickets.