BOLTON Percy could not prevent Goole Town from extending their lead at the top of the Hunters York & District Senior League first division table in a low-scoring contest.
It proved a good day for Goole, who racked up a sixth straight success, while nearest rivals Welton and Woodhouse Grange both suffered defeats.
Put in to bat, visitors Percy were restricted to 112-9 with Aidan Coulbeck (4-30) picking up four wickets, including two in three balls early in the innings, and Ben Lamb (3-15) three, one of which was top scorer Tom Atkinson for 28.
The hosts suffered a mini collapse when three wickets in the space of six runs helped reduce them to 51-4 but Ben Shelfton held firm, finishing unbeaten on 56 in a five-wicket win.
It was the opener’s second consecutive half-century and his third of the season.
Dringhouses pulled off the shock result of the day, beating second-placed Welton by four wickets at St Helen’s Road.
Tom Storr (4-35) took four wickets and Tom Owen (3-35) three as the visitors, who had yet to lose a league match this season, were bowled out for 125.
A 32 from Ashley Page was one of only three double-figured scores in the innings.
The home side didn’t have things all their own way and two wickets apiece from Matthew Wilkinson and Harry Nightingale reduced them to 84-6 before an unbeaten 37 from Storr secured the victory.
Owen had earlier made 41 on an excellent day for the two Toms.
A second five-wicket haul of the season for Richard Medforth (5-32) set up Hornsea’s victory at Woodhouse Grange, who began the day in third but drop a place following a four-wicket defeat.
Visitors Grange, who chose to bat first, found themselves in trouble at 25-6 thanks to Medforth’s efforts and recovered somewhat thanks to a stand of 57 between Robert Daniel (49) and Sam Beales (36) before Joe Butterworth, with 4-35, wrapped up the innings with the score on 135.
Alex Burton struck a couple of early blows as the hosts began their reply but 67 from Ashley McKinley helped see them home despite four wickets from Matthew Shepherd (4-56).
In a batting fest between Carlton Towers and Harrogate, Tom Collins smashed 165 from 108 balls as both teams scored a combined 600 runs from 96 overs.
Collins put on 139 for the fifth wicket with Mark Holmes (60) to help Towers reach 326-7.
It wasn’t the day to be a bowler, but Ethan Westerman (3-82) did manage to come away with three wickets.
In the face of such a stiff challenge, the visitors refused to yield and runs from Andy Hawkswell (48), Ollie Horberry (39) and a half century from Abd-Hasan Ali (64) ensured they earned a draw closing on 274-9.
Rob Holah was the pick of the bowlers with 3-52.
The match at Clifton Park between Alliance and Driffield Town also finished in a draw with the home side in the ascendancy.
Nick Hindle went past 50 for the third time this season, finishing with 87, while Kevin Bradley (39), Sid Corley (43no) and Craig Nicoll (35no) also contributed to a total of 256-4.
Despite three wickets each from Rich Carroll (3-52) and Hayden Bradley (3-29), the hosts were unable to force the win.
Nick Johnson (42) and a third half-century of 2019 from Owen Goldsworthy (51) helped keep them at bay.
Knaresborough beat Heworth by five wickets to keep pace with the promotion-chasing pack.
Matthew Bird finished with figures of six for 18 and Ben Ward also picked up key wickets, including that of Guy Wilkinson.
He finally succumbed on 67 as the visitors were dismissed for 160.
Opener Callum Beasley then led the victory charge for the hosts with 52 and further contributions from Nigel Martyn (31) and Jordan Tear (30) meant the result was never really in doubt.
Heworth drop back into the bottom and even without the threat of relegation due to competition restructuring the Elm Park side will be keen to avoid the wooden spoon.
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