YORK maintained their seven-point lead of the Yorkshire ECB Premier League when they defeated Rotherham Town at Clifton Park on Saturday.

Simon Mason led the way when he posted a 16-boundary 82 in as many balls. Duncan Snell assisted with a polished knock before a rousing unbeaten stand of 95 between Tom Bartram and Mike Mortimer provided the icing on the cake.

Yorkshire's Jon Blain was the core of the Rotherham attack and his side's openers provided an emphatic reply with Afiq Raheem and Sami Chaudry rushing to 107 in 17 overs. Raheem, a Pakistan Under-19 player, was most impressive in his stroke play.

After the partnership was broken, the visitors' reply depended on Dai Williams, who lacked support as the rump of the visitors' batting fell to the pace of Nick Thornicroft who picked up five wickets in 30 balls to snuff out any chance of victory for the improving South Yorkshire club

Sunday's visit to Sheffield Collegiate saw York relinquish their grip on the League Cup when they lost a bowl-out after rain ended play early.

Put in to bat, Collegiate got a good start through Nick Gaywood passing 100 in 21 overs but Dan Broadbent pegged them back so they only raised 67 runs in the next 21 overs. York seemed to be on the brink of limiting Collegiate to a manageable total when rain set in to end play for the day.

Collegiate took a rather farcical bowl out when they had the only success in the nine deliveries allotted to each team

York v Rotherham

York: M Sheedy ct Cowells b Blain 11, D Broadbent b Shoaib Hassan 5, S Mason c Cowells b Afaq Raheem 82, N Kay b Blain 6, D Snell lbw b Chaudry 35, M Mortimer not out 43, T Bartram not out 44. Extras 35. Total: 261-5.

Bowling: J Blain 20-5-62-2, Shoaib Hassan 8-0-42-1, M Thomson 6-0-38-0, S Chaudry 9-1-44-1, A Raheem 12-0-56-1.

Rotherham: Afaq Raheem b Broadbent 63, S Chaudry lbw b Kay 59, Asra Qadood run out 4, D Williams c N Durham b Thornicroft 45, J Blain b Broadbent 8, N Robinson run out 2, S Cowells lbw b Thornicroft 0, I Qadoos lbw b Thornicroft 4, Y Yousof c N Kay b Thornicroft 16, M Thompson not out 1, Shoaib Hassan c Durham b Thornicroft 0. Extras 14. Total: 216.

Bowling: N Thornicroft 11.1-0-61-5, D Snell 6-1-29-0, D Broadbent 21-8-62-2. N Kay 11-0-56-1.

York v Sheffield Collegiate

Sheffield Collegiate: N Gaywood ct Sheedy b Broadbent 42, C Wall lbw b Boyle 21, J Tasker ct Durham b Broadbent 34, E McKenna b N Kay 18, S Clark ct Durham b Broadbent 7, C Colgate not out 12, R Barlow ct Bairstow b Broadbent 12, M Simpson not out 12, Extras 20. Total 176-6 wickets

Bowling: N Thornicroft 5-2-17-0 D Snell 7-0-28-0 A Boyle 6-1-31-1 M Mortimer 3.1-1-0-26-0 D Breoadbent 10-2-43-4 N Kay 10-0-28-1

STAMFORD Bridge Cricket Club will host Yorkshire Seconds' three-day home match with Worcestershire this week.

The action begins at Low Catton Road tomorrow at 11am and at the same time on Wednesday and Thursday morning.

Updated: 11:19 Monday, July 25, 2005