Heworth go to the top

Former Malton and Old Malton player Greg Johnson top scored for Heworth with 44 while Dave Simpson maintained his improved form since returning to the Elmpark Way fold with 33.

Australian Craig Hankinson's 5 for 55 had Heworth all out for 163 and he then followed with a useful 45. Rich Gowland lent support with 29 but Bell was in a mesmeric mood and his wiles earned him a matchwinning 6 for 26 as Osbaldwick crashed to 112 all out.

Heworth are the third side to top the table in as many weeks, taking over from Clifton Alliance, whose leadership was terminated by Whitkirk after Simon Bowman's 6 for 23 off 12 overs had rocked Clifton's batsmen. Aussie Mark Selph then hit 50 and despite the efforts of fellow countryman Joel Southam, who took 4-39, Whitkirk steered past the home total of 114 in the 46th over.

Initial leaders Easingwold crashed to defeat at Acomb and have slipped alarmingly to ninth place.

Acomb had to thank their star pair, Richard Sykes and Richard Clayton, for their four wicket triumph over Easingwold, who are in free fall down the table after being the initial leaders. Alan Robinson made 56, Tom Darnell 53 and Martin Robinson 27 for Easingwold but their colleagues were less successful as Clayton grabbed 7 for 39 and they were all out for 173. Sykes then maintained the form which had seen him reach treble figures the previous week when he made 71. Clayton chipped in with 38 and their efforts cancelled out Martin Robinson's 3 for 48 as Acomb reached 174-6.

Current champions Woodhouse Grange travelled to Dunnington for an important trial of strength and, having emerged winners by three wickets, confirmed their potential of extending their record breaking run of championships to five. The home side made a respectable 213-7 as West Indian Harwood Williams hit 85 and Simon Kellett made 46. Peter Head being Grange's most successful bowler with 3-43. Grange's reply was spearheaded by Matt Macmillin, who made 56, with Stuart Craven making a supportive 37.

Spinners Steve Precious (3-46) and David Cox (3-74) strove to gain ascendancy but Woodhouse were able to bank 28 points with a three wicket advantage.

The highest total of the day was made at Pickering where the home side posted a target of 238-4. Colin Frank hit 59 to maintain his run of half centuries whilst Brian Leckenby made 56, Gary Pickup 49 and Chris Nicholls 41. In reply, former Duncombe Park player Peter Kent hit 62 and veteran Des Wyrill made 56 to enable Thirsk to draw at 176-8 as Andy Boyes captured 3 for 27.

Driffield's rise up the table continued when they recorded a five wicket win at Sessay. Dave Eggleton 33, Duane Atkinson 30 and Richard Till 42no had combined to take Sessay to 194-6 as James Fisher captured 4-60. When Driffield responded Sessay's overseas player Tom Blakely took 3 for 72 but good contributions from S Cooper 45, Peter Sellar 28, N King 45 and Andrew Grayson 27 earned Driffield the spoils.

First division Stamford Bridge's bid for premier division status was boosted with a nine wicket victory at Boroughbridge Road where home side York Civil Service made 146-8. Alex Livie made 43 and Tim Jarvis an unbeaten 33. When Stamford replied, Colin Brown fell for 33 but skipper Jonathan Stevens (77no) was then joined by Ian Fraser (27no) and this pair clinched victory without any further setback.

Goole Town's first visit to the country park setting of Hovingham Hall earned them 18 points from an advantage draw but this reward was insufficient for the league's newcomers to retain top spot in the division. Neil Webster made 61no and Brian Clements 28 but good bowling from Tom Marwood who took 5-75 restricted the visitors to 157-6. In the event this fairly average total proved to be beyond the reach of the home side who had to thank Tom Marwood's unbeaten 25 for their draw which was reached at 83-6 with M Leek taking 3 for 12.

Pocklington moved into second place after Kevin Hinch's 76 had seen them overtake the Rowntree total at Mille Crux for the loss of just three wickets.

Rowntree's innings was in tatters after just seven overs as their early batsmen again failed. By this time the factory side had been reduced to 18 for 4 as Aussie Bruce Spicer (4-20) made incisive inroads. John Condon, called in from the second XI, utilised his experience to make an unbeaten 34 to edge his side to a respectable 136 but Rich Foster took 3 for 46 to ensure that Pocklington's after tea efforts would not be too taxing. This proved to be the case as Hinch hit 76 and Phil Stephenson 27 as Pocklington moved to victory by seven wickets, with all three wickets falling to Paul Horner as a cost of 49.

York players took all the plaudits at Helmsley where home side Duncombe Park lost by nine wickets after making only 138-9 in the first innings. Andrew Pierson (38) was the only Park batsman to successfully cope with the bowling of Ben Quick who took 5 for 62. Mike Taylor with 61no and Shaun Gorman with 51no then took York to a comfortable win.

Beverley Town completed another prosperous day for the division's new clubs when they won by eight wickets at Bedale after the home side had failed to earn any batting points by being bowled out for 91. J Boyes made 58no as Beverley recorded their third win.

Ripon's batsmen were even less successful than those of Bedale, the Citizens finding themselves all out for just 85 as Colin Mole took 4-34, Mike Smith 3-25 and Charlie Foster 3-13. John Gaines hit back with 3-32 but Chris Walls made 27 as Sheriff Hutton Bridge won by five wickets.

Division two leaders Crayke had a seven wicket home win over Clifton Alliance who were all out for 102 as Jim Thomas took 4-35. Andy Dawson made 28no for the Villagers. Nigel Rippon's 5 for 23 had Heworth II all out for 70 at Osbaldwick, who went on to win by six wickets with Steve Jackson making 45no.

Wilberfoss are in second place after getting marginally the better of a closely fought draw with Dringhouses. John Myers made 44 and Kev Davison 41 as 'Foss reached 198-6. Davison then followed with 3-65 and, with Ben Connolly taking 3-52, Dringhouses' batsmen just failed to force a win when they closed on 182-8 with Mark Kenyon making 45, Chris Evans 43 and Mark Fenton 31.

Bubwith had the better of a draw at Selby where the home side were taken to the edge of defeat at 104-9 by former Driffield player Neil Pratt, who took 4 for 17. Earlier Brian Last had top scored for Bubwith, making 33 in his side's 151-9 with Chris Young taking 4-43.

At Woodhouse Grange, Rich Steel made 57 and Jonathan Simpson 67 in Grange's total of 162-8 against Dunnington for whom Dave Greening took 4-23 and Mal Walker 3-48. Gary Andrew then masterminded Dunnington's successful reply with an unbeaten 104.

Former East Yorkshire Cup team Scarborough are still without a victory, having recorded their fourth draw when entertaining Bolton Percy. Scarborough made 176-8 with Tim Watts heading the way with 61 as John Green claimed 5 for 87. Peter Houseman then made 58 but Paul Harrand kept the visitors under control with 4-22 and Percy closed on 153-7.

West Indian Collis King scored a matchwinning 68 to take Stillington to a seven wicket win in the Galtres derby game at Huby. Prior to scoring his runs, King had taken 3-50 as he and Matt Coulson 5-64 had pegged Huby to 119-8. Huntington crashed to 79 all out as Andy Smith took 5-14 and lost by 62 runs to Tadcaster despite 4-40 from Wally Baynes.

The Thorp Arch batsmen were in kamikaze mode at York RI where a series of ambitious strokes helped them succumb to Lee Bradshaw, whose 8 for 40 had the Boston side all out for 76. Owen Batley then bowled effectively to capture 5 for 23 but he was unable to prevent a home win by five wickets.

Carlton Towers were thwarted by Magnets and had to be content with the best of a draw when Magnets made 141-7 in response to Carlton's 192-7.

Hartley Heard was Carlton's star, following his unbeaten 79 with 3 for 27 while John Rossington with 44 and Mick Ransome 34 batted resolutely for the Brewers.

Cawood's batsmen found the Heslington attack far too hot to handle and they were bowled out for just 55 as Simon Anderson took 6-29 and Ashley Quinn 4-12. Chris Dower, the former New Earswick player, then made 34no as Heslington won by eight wickets.

Three new clubs currently occupy the leading positions in division four with Londesbrough Park having an 11 point advantage over Whitkirk II and Yapham. Whitkirk built on an opening stand of 98 between M Kent 43 and D Boucher 44 to reach 200-7 against New Earswick. G Thorpe having made 43 then took 3 for 8 as New Earswick capitulated to 79 all out.

Former Sheriff Hutton Bridge skipper Clive Clark returned to familiar surroundings of Moor Farm with Yapham who were, perhaps, unlucky to meet a home side which included Paul Oldfield in its line-up.

The 1993 York League's junior player of the year, making one if his rare appearances for the Bridge turned in a superb all-round performance to earn his side a seven wicket victory. Clark continued to mine his rich field of runs with 56 but Oldfield took 8 for 49 as Yapham were bowled out for 146. Oldfield then made 52 before Nick Scaling 27no and Richard Brook 30no gained a seven wicket home win.

Graham Flint made 110 and John Dodds 52 as Stamford Bridge added to the East Riding domination of the division with a six wicket victory over Sessay whilst Simon Barton's 82, coupled with 6 for 26 by A Stiles, helped Thirsk beat Sheriff Hutton by three wickets.

In division five, an opening stand of 133 between Alan Roberts 68 and skipper Mike Shirley 65no took Rowntree to a nine wicket win at Thorp Arch, but John Reynolds' haul of 6-47 was in vain as Magnets were bowled out for 78 and lost to Carlton Towers by 37 runs.

Peter Dalton took 6 for 69 for Hovingham at New Earswick, who totalled 188-8 with Andy Routledge making 65. Routledge then took 3 for 1, his father John 4 for 12 and Steve Duncan 3 for 26 as Hovingham were whipped out for 47.

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