GOOLE Town remain top of Hunters York & District Senior League division one - despite suffering a five-wicket defeat at Woodhouse Grange.

The visitors were asked to bat first and responded by making 173 before being bowled out. Grange secured victory with a couple of overs to spare and, as a result, move into the promotion places.

Meanwhile, former second-placed Welton lost for the second week in a row, with the latest defeat a crushing 159-run reversal at home to Knaresborough.

The visitors’ decision to bat first proved to be the right one as they reached 234-6 from 48 overs. Welton, in contrast, struggled throughout their innings and were bowled out for just 75.

The net result of those games as the season reaches the halfway point is that below leaders Goole Town - who have a 39-point advantage over their nearest rivals - the next seven teams are separated by just 31 points and will all feel they are in with a chance of clinching one of the two promotion places up for grabs.

Driffield Town are one of those involved. They extended their unbeaten run to five matches, but were denied victory by home side Dringhouses' last-wicket pair.

Kevin Woodcock and Nicky Johnson both made 45 while James Richardson finished not out on 28 as the home side scored 211-8.

Tom Owen replied for the visitors with 49, narrowly missing out on his second half-century of the season, and Gary Wilson made 28.

Johnson was the pick of the Kings Mill Road sides bowlers, finishing with 3-45. None of the attack, though, were able to capture the final wicket, the visitors closing on 180-9.

Despite avoiding defeat, the visitors remain rooted to the foot of the table.

Hornsea, who were in the bottom two just over a month ago, climbed up to fifth following a three-wicket win at Elmpark Way over hosts Heworth.

John Draper top scored for the home side with 62, but the seven wickets shared by Ben Ineson (4-39) and Gary Ratcliffe (3-25) ensured they never got away, eventually being dismissed for 169.

Alex Bell (3-45) and Alfie Oliver (3-20) responded with three wickets each for the home side, but 47 runs from the in-form Ashley McKinley - who backed up last week’s 67 against Woodhouse Grange - and 30 from Andrew Newington kept the reply on track before Mark Knapton saw them over the line with an unbeaten 32.

Ollie Horberry (124) and Harry Allinson (112) hit centuries to set up Harrogate’s first victory of the season.

Not even Paul Walton - who took 4-76 - could halt the hosts' batting as they racked up 332-7 against Clifton Alliance at St George’s Road.

In the face of such an imposing total, the visitors batsmen found the going tough. Three wickets from Ethan Westerman (3-34) and four from Robert Horbury (4-20) helped dismiss them for 135.

Even a half-century from Lewis Clark (55) was not enough to detract from a 197-run defeat - the heaviest of five in their last six matches.

The match at North Road was equally one-sided, with visitors Carlton Towers inflicting a 158-run defeat on Bolton Percy.

The hosts were bowled out for just 79, the Towers trio of Joe Romaniw (3-8), Mark Holmes (3-33) and Robert Holah (4-25) sharing all 10 wickets.

That came after the visitors had posted 237-6. Holah (58) was one of two batsmen to make half-centuries, with Tom Collins (58) the other.

Henry Bayston also contributed 38 while Danny White was the pick of the home side's attack with 3-63.