ACOMB and Driffield Town remain on course for an immediate return to Yorkshire Premier League North after wins in the Hunters York & District Senior Cricket League premier division.

Danny Broumpton’s Driffield Town remain on course for the title after a comfortable 72-run victory over Pickering at Kings Mill Road.

The hosts’ skipper top-scored with 61 and Owen Goldsworthy made 43 alongside contributions from Grant Halder (39) and Alec Drury (32).

Michael Brown (4-61) picked up four wickets for the visitors but could not prevent the hosts posting a formidable 259-8.

Colin Frank led the visitors' reply with 44 but, despite innings of note from Tom Sigsworth (38) and Keiran Bowes (31), the target remained well out of reach.

James Anson (3-24) and Jordan Caley (3-45) both picked up three wickets in a winning cause.

Acomb kept up the pressure on the leaders as they too enjoying a commanding victory, away to bottom of the table Beverley Town by 103 runs.

Darcy O’Connor turned in a match-winning all-round performance for the visitors following 46 from a total of 226-9 with three wickets late on to seal the points.

Opener William Wade (35) and skipper Matthew Dale (34) had already laid the platform when O’Connor and Joe Dale (43) put on 80 for the fifth wicket, while Connor Bowden took 3-64 and Joey Franklin 3-69.

Nicholas Schofield’s 3-27 for the visitors included Town top scorer Matthew Mudd, who scored 36 of his side's 123 all out.

Third-placed York put distance between themselves and fourth-placed Malton & Old Malton with a five-wicket win thanks in the main to a second half-century in succession from Matthew Roberts (66) and an unbeaten 43 from Alex Lilley.

Stephen Linsley had earlier made 72 for the home side, whose total of 217-7 also included runs from Tom Bumby (42) and Will Spencer (30). Neil Laidlaw was the pick of the bowlers with 3-59.

Sheriff Hutton Bridge missed out on maximum points as Folkton & Flixton finished the match at Moor Farm with nine wickets down.

The home team looked to have done enough after they scored 199-7, Arthur Campion (47) and Harry Sutcliffe (49) both narrowly missing out on half-centuries.

Much of the credit for the visitors’ share of the points rests with Harry Walmsley, who took 4-57 and then scored 50 of his side's 167-9.

Nadeem Shefta took 3-35 but the decisive final one eluded the hosts and, despite collecting 26 points, they remain dangerously close to the relegation places.

Whitkirk are out of the relegation places for the first time in almost two and a half months thanks to a six-wicket win at Hull Zingari.

Sam Bateman (4-46) picked up four wickets for the fourth time in 2019 and Michael O’Brien (4-46) finished with his best figures as the home side were bowled out for 116, Jack Storey and Laurence Wilkinson both making 24 but neither able to go on to make a more telling contribution.

In reply Sam Parker scored an unbeaten 38 not out to see his side to victory which should inspire confidence as they battle to avoid the drop.

Easingwold replace Whitkirk in the bottom two after they were well beaten by Studley Royal.

Studley ended a three-match losing streak thanks to an unbeaten 71 from James Clarkson and a fine all-round performance from Matthew Coad (3-31), who took three of the first four wickets to fall as the home side stumbled to 56-5.

Elliott Oates spearheaded a recovery of sorts, making 59 before becoming one of three wickets for Charlie Scatchard (3-32), the innings ending with the score on 159.

Visiting skipper Coad contributed a run-a-ball 44 to the chase before leaving fellow opener Clarkson to see their side over the line.