ONLY four games beat the heavy rains at the weekend in the HPH York Vale Cricket League.

Askham Bryan were the only club in division one without covers who managed to stage a match.

It proved a turgid affair with the batsmen struggling on a wet wicket with 12 of the 17 wickets to fall being bowled.

Pete Wood took 5-26 - all bowled - as Fulfordgate struggled to reach 100 thanks to a last-wicket partnership between Mick Nelson (34no) and Ray Dodd.

Askham struggled against James Reeves, who also hit the wicket for all of his 4-26 and at 74-7 the game was evenly balanced. Paul Thornton (10) and new wicketkeeper Robert Dale (19) added the 27 runs need for Askham Bryan's three-wicket win.

An under-strength Kelfield were limited to 98-4 by Hemingbrough in a division two game shortened to 28 overs.

Paul Collins and D Hughes both bowled throughout and shared the wickets but Kelfield skipper Neil Atkinson (42no) shared a fifth-wicket partnership of 46 with Spencer Pearson (12no).

Hemingbrough were struggling at 36-3 but Matthew Milburn (39) and James Dougherty (26) added 63 to see their side home by seven wickets.

Clifton Alliance took first knock against Stillingfleet on Sunday and recorded a useful 169-3 as the bowlers struggled with a damp ball.

Allan Barton reached his half century before retiring hurt and good efforts from Chris Elliott (31) and Ranadeep Banerjee (42) boosted the total.

Stillingfleet were in trouble at 45-4 but were rescued by a superb unbeaten 70 from skipper Rob Murray and 55 from P Johnson as they raced to their first win of the season with an unbeaten partnership of 126.

In division five, Hemingbrough II's experience was vital as they beat a Carlton Towers team containing seven junior players by nine wickets.

Mark Allitt ripped through the Towers batting order with 7-29 as the home side were humbled for 77. John Waterhouse (33no) Hemingbrough to a comfortable victory.

This coming weekend sees the start of the HPH and Scothern Cup competitions.

A quirk of the draw sees the winners of both cups drawn together in the first round of the HPH.

Updated: 12:01 Thursday, May 18, 2006