York recovered from a poor start before earning an 'incomplete win' over Clifton Park visitors Barnsley in the Oxbridge Yorkshire ECB County Premier League.

They were put in to bat after their skipper Nigel Durham had lost the toss, but went on to lose their first two wickets through needless run outs in the fourth and 12th overs.

York recovered to reach the second highest score of the day, 254-7 after 60 overs, but were denied the full fruits of victory as Barnsley hung on to their last three wickets at 189-7.

It became an entertaining game after York had laboured to reach 50-2 after 26 tedious overs of mediocre bowling, with Nick Kay (67) and Simon Kay putting on 124 for the third wicket when Nick Kay was caught behind by Barnsley's keeper Dave Brunt off Richard Ledger in the 38th over.

After a nervous start consisting mainly of 'find the fielder', Mason turned on the style to include a six and nine boundaries in his unbeaten ton although in contrast his first 50 came off 119 deliveries and his second off 39.

With the score on 7-0 Stephen Piercy failed to make his ground as a direct hit from 25 yards from mid-on broke his stumps and disaster struck again in the twelfth over at 18-1 as Marcus Wood became the second opening bat run out victim.

Nash Stone was York's next highest scorer with 43 and Ben Quick was 18 not out as York posted Barnsley a target of 254-4.

York's bowlers got among the Barnsley batsmen virtually from the start with James Pringle clean bowling Gary Fenton for a duck and Stone had Bret Hunsley caught behind by the York skipper also without scoring.

But a stubborn stand between Paul Benson and Ian Dixon worth 86 saw Barnsley recover from being five wickets down for 82 to lose their next wicket at 168-6 leaving York no choice but to settle for what used to be called a winning draw as they had not bowled out the opposition.

After what for John Proud has been an indifferent start to the season, the Harrogate skipper batted right through at Savile Park to score an unbeaten 136 against Castleford.

The 6'3" left-hander hammered two sixes and 16 fours and enjoyed a century stand (122) with Peter Hepworth (50), Vic Craven also adding a half century.

Harrogate, who last won the league in 1988, raced to 273-4, before bowling Castleford out for 217 in 50 overs, Dave Pennett and Simon Kippax sharing six wickets between them.

Unaccustomed leaders, Sheffield United maintained top place after bowling out Driffield for 96 in the 52nd over, United knocking the runs off for the loss of two wickets with 26 overs to spare.

Leg spinner Jon Trower took six Driffield wickets for 25 and South African, Piete Swanepoel weighed in with 3-19.

Bottom club Rotherham (153-8) went down by five wickets to the defending champions, Doncaster who reached their target in 56.4 overs.

Hull were bowled out for 118 in the 58th over before home side Cleethorpes knocked the runs off for the loss of one wicket in 34.3 overs.

Yorkshire and England all-rounder Craig White fighting his way back from injury and sickness made a point yesterday, if not a few points, when he scored 121 for Scarborough against Yorkshire Academy on their New Rover ground overlooking the Leeds by-pass in the Yorkshire ECB County Premier League.

He included three sixes and nine boundaries off 139 balls helping 'Boro to reach 272-6 in sixty overs.

With Mark Cowell (38) as his opening partner, White put on 72 for the first wicket while Richard Pyrah (78) and Joe Sayers (53) enjoyed a first wicket stand of 121 for Academy, who deprived Boro of a full win by hanging on to their last two wickets.