NEW signing Joe Dale (119 not out) began the season in style with an opening-day century for Beverley Town in their high-scoring Hunters York & District Senior League premier division win over Whitkirk six wickets.

The former Acomb batsman scored at more than a run a ball, sharing a fourth-wicket stand of 150 with Anthony Spence as the hosts chased down a target of 254 with almost 10 overs to spare.

Earlier in the day, Sam Parker (74) and Simon Webb (52) both scored half-centuries for Whitkirk. Thomas Haytack (4-52) limited the total in good batting conditions.

Welton were the day’s top scorers with 272-9, despite Richard Mann’s 4-52 for Goole Town.

James Windeatt (71) and Thomas Copp (67) made major contributions for Welton and Rob Page finished unbeaten on 41.

The home side’s reply never really got going as Luke Hills (4-31) and Sam Bates (3-22) shared seven wickets.

It took 46 late on from Lewis Moore to boost the hosts' total from 70-8 to 123, which still resulted in a 150-run defeat.

The tightest finish of the day came at Hull Zingari, who lost by just four runs to visitors Folkton & Flixton.

Will Norman (79no) and Connor Stephenson (43no) put on a 103-run seventh-wicket partnership after Callum Hellwig (3-73) had taken three wickets.

These included Tom Norman (39) and James Clark (36) as the visitors scored 256-6.

Matthew Bunn (85) and Nathan Johnson (63) looked to be steering the home side in the right direction. They both fell to Tom Norman (4-61) who also removed Gary Abdoll (61) and bowled the crucial final over, conceding just two runs and taking the final Zingari wicket with three balls left.

Pickering’s David Greenlay produced the tier's best bowling figures of the day, claiming 5-28 from 15 overs at Moor Farm, where Sheriff Hutton Bridge were bowled out for 150.

Three further wickets went to Kieran Bowes (3-29).

David Coverdale made 34 and Conner Campbell 44 but the total never looked likely to be enough, and the visitors reached their target inside 34 overs.

Daniel Ward (47) narrowly missed out on a half-century in the reply, becoming one of three wickets for David Hull (3-35). Andrew Sharman made 37.

Neil Laidlaw had a fine all-round day for York as they won at Studley Royal by seven wickets.

Laidlaw took 4-16, including the wicket of Steve Walmsley who made 82 in the home side's total of 182 all out.

He then opened the batting, making 42 and adding 72 with Tom Spearman (31).

Three quick wickets from Matthew Coad (3-34) threatened to derail the visitors’ innings but an unbroken stand of 101 between Bevan Fawcett (41no) and skipper Alex Collins (62no) saw their side over the line.

Relegated Sessay may have finished the 2019 season with the disappointment of relegation but they began the new season with a victory at home against Malton & Old Malton.

Mark Wilkie (60), Tim Hall (59no) and Craig Ross (57) all passed 50 as the hosts reached 242-8, Darren Coates returning the best bowling figures for either side with 4-54.

The visitors looked to be in the game thanks to half-centuries from Michael Linsley (55) and Matthew Turnbull (52) but the innings ran out of steam and they were eventually dismissed for 207.

Dominic Rhodes marked his return to local side Cottingham with a blistering performance in a 267-run win at Pocklington.

In division one east of the Hunters York & District Senior League, the former Stamford Bridge all-rounder scored 143 out of his side's 332-8 before taking 5-27 from 10 overs.

Nathan Saltmer (25) was one of only two batsmen to reach double figures as the home side were bowled out for just 65 in reply, Joe Routh taking 3-26.

Steve Burdett (95 not out) helped Woodhouse Grange to a 34-run win over Hull Zingari.

Jonty Atkinson (58) added a half-century to Grange's 246-5 total. With the ball, Burdett then took 5-20 from 15 overs.

In division one west, Osbaldwick all-rounder Matthew Hattee finished on the losing side despite taking 4-45 and scoring 79 as visitors Thorp Arch & Boston Spa won a tight contest by 11 runs.

Nitikant Kasana (4-55) took the first four wickets as Osbaldwick slipped to 64-4 and, despite a Hattee-led recovery, they fell just short.

Easingwold trio Zak Wilson (3-36), Tom Quinn (3-43) and Josh Sargent (3-19) each began the season with three wickets as Sessay were bowled out for 146 at Back Lane.

Ben Kettlewell (34) and Tom Sowerby (31 not out) both passed 30 as the hosts recorded a three-wicket win.

Harry Collinson (187) top-scored for Thirsk in their high-scoring draw with Heworth.

Hosts Thirsk piled up 352-8 with Collinson and Tom Scott (65) adding 175 for the third wicket before Scott became one of four wickets for Jacob Newman (4-57).

The visitors responded through Jack Wilkinson (56), Guy Wilkinson (65) and skipper Chris Barrett (69) also made half-centuries in the 269-8 total.

Dringhouses drew at home to Carlton Towers, who posted 268-6.

Paul Milner (87) led the way as Dringy responded with 199-9.

An unbroken 170-run second wicket partnership between David Taylor (82no) and captain Simon Williams (54no) helped Clifton Alliance (201-1) to a nine-wicket win over Bolton Percy.