CLIFTON Alliance secured a last-wicket win at Burn in a nail-biting HPH York Vale League division one contest.

Batting first, Burn got off to a bad start, losing two of their top four to golden ducks.

A Ray Adamson and Scott Hunt partnership steadied the ship before more wickets began to fall as the hosts were 141 all out.

The steady fall of wickets in Clifton’s reply resulted in their final pair eventually taking them over the line.

A minute’s silence was observed before the game, meanwhile, in memory of Clifton’s John Meyers.

Melbourne (135) fell seven runs short of South Cave & Brantingham’s 142 all out first innings in another close finish.

The winners were indebted to good knocks from Ollie Pierce, Sam Patchett and Ben Scorah with Melbourne captain James Coupland (5-40) leading the way with the ball.

In reply, a good 23 by Brian Underwood, batting at eight, took Melbourne within a whisker of a win but the bowling of Tony Scotter (5-37) helped seal victory.

Stockton & Hopgrove’s last pair were also needed to secure victory over Ovington.

Athula Rathanayke (4-11) and Tom Williams (3-11) oversaw the collapse of Ovington’s innings to 69 all out.

At 50-2, Stockton then appeared on course until the introduction of 14-year-old Monty Greynor (5-8) saw them floundering on 63-9, still seven short of the target.

A boundary from last man Dean Tyler levelled the scores, leaving Rich Grimes to hit the winning run.

Thixendale (185 all out) completed a convincing victory at Yapham (101 all out), posting their target thanks largely to respective scores of 41 and 38 by Simon Wolgate and Fred Smyth in the middle order.

Richard Walker (4-12) also took care of Yapham’s middle order.

Askham Bryan played with two short at Kelfield and were bowled out for 44 despite batting 32 overs with David Stephenson taking three wickets.

Victory went on to be sealed for the loss of just three wickets.

In division two, Hemingbrough and Pocklington played out another nail-biter.

At 99-1 Brough looked set for a big total, until Pock turned to spin duo Sumner (4-11 off 5 overs) and Ashby (5-4 off 5 overs), who had their opponents all out for 106.

Brough bowlers made batting hard for Pock with first-change duo Granville North (4-25) and Charlie Brackley (3-20) in the wickets and, with 15 runs needed off the last three overs, a superb run out by Jamie Brace ended their innings.

Thorpe Willoughby (116-9) ran out winners against Ben Johnson (76) thanks mainly to runs by Alex Kirk (41) and wickets from Danny Crockford (3-33).

The highlights of Stamford Bridge’s comfortable victory over Wheldrake (46) were a maiden 100 not out for 17-year-old Taylor Stanton and 57 from keeper Charlie Wilson, which helped their team reach 202-4.

The bowlers backed this up, with 14-year-old Peter Macfarlane (4 -15) and the evergreen Des Healey (4-6) doing the damage.

A brilliant knock by Raj Banerjee (98) helped Clifton Alliance (211-7) beat Sessay (184-9) in a high-scoring affair.

Sessay’s run chase was kept alive by Andrew Dawson (38) and Bruce Jackson (20) but, once they departed, Clifton ran out worthy winners with Alex Sykes and Tommy Kindred the pick of their bowlers.

Dunnington (58-4) completed a comfortable home victory against Hirst Courtney (57) with Harry Paver (26 off 6 balls) finishing things off in style.

In division three, Burn (69-2) continued their winning ways against a young Bolton Percy (65), with Thorpe Willoughby (121-1) comfortably beating Ovington II (120) as bowlers dominated.

Stamford Bridge (179-6) had Liam Easton (83no) in form as they beat Selby (125-5).

Press player of the week: 17-year-old Taylor Stanton for Stamford Bridge scoring 100 not out