Former leaders Goole Town slipped to second place in Hunters the estate agent York and District Senior League division two when they narrowly failed to match Hovingham's 157 all out.

Stuart Prest hit 81 and Richie Brown 28 for the hosts, but overseas man Ashley Hulme took 6-26 to set a target of 157.

Aussie Hulme then continued with 46 while Steve Foster played his part with 39, but John Thornton took 3-17 and Steve Mosey 3-31 as, in a tense finish, Goole were just four runs short of victory on 154-8 and had to settle for a draw.

Bridlington retained a measure of interest in the promotion race when they took 30 points in a bowler dominated game at Rowntree.

A trio of home bowlers each took three wickets, skipper Richard Tuite taking 3-32, Paul Brook 3-40 and Dave Whittle 3-67.

The talented Haafez Khalid was easily the best Bridlington batsman, making 39 in a total of 136.

Three Bridlington bowlers then more than matched their opposite numbers as Rowntree melted away to 85 all out. Will Hall took 3-28 and Glen McHale 3-21 before James Edmondson finished things off by taking 3-10 in just 3.4 overs.

At Dringhouses, Richard Cole (4-30) and Ian Bews (3-32) dismissed visiting Crayke for 107 before an unbeaten 68 by John Crow added to 26 by Greg Fitzpatrick saw Dringhouses to a win which keeps them just above the relegation line.

Two bowlers gained seven-wicket hauls when Ripon entertained New Earswick, with Andy Cook's 7-30 eclipsing Paul Stimpson's 7-75 to gain Ripon the best of a draw.

Peter Squires's unbeaten 34 was the best for the home side, with Stuart Clark making 29 in support as Ripon were dismissed for 168.

Cook then started off in devastating fashion as he grabbed five quick wickets to reduce Earswick to 37-5.

Number three batsman James Routledge then at last found an ally in Kev Barker, who made 30, as the pair added 66 for the sixth wicket before Barker was bowled by Tom Leeming.

Cook then quickly bagged two more wickets but Routledge remained solid to reach 49 not out and, with last man Martin Hewitson defending stoicly, New Earswick were able to escape with a draw on 133-9

In the highest-scoring game in the division, Sewerby gained a six-wicket victory over Bolton Percy thanks to a big unbroken fifth-wicket stand between Mike Artley and Steve Foster.

Bolton Percy narrowly missed out on full batting points when they were dismissed for 196 in the 42nd over aafter Phil Salter had made 77 and skipper Jamie Rigby 57.

Rob Coates cut off Percy's tail with 4-23 in 6.5 overs. Sewerby then lost four wickets for only 58 but Artley, with 97 not out, and Foster, with 63 not out, ensured a victory without any further setbacks.

Updated: 10:59 Monday, August 29, 2005