SESSAY have fallen from the top of the Pilmoor Evening Cricket League first division.

Their second defeat in three weeks saw them overtaken by Acomb. They now share second place with Thirsk, who beat them, while, at the foot of the table, Alne won the relegation clash with Sheriff Hutton, who now look doomed to occupy the relegation spot.

Sessay batted first against Thirsk and made a good start, with Stuart Peirse in form, making 44 before being run out off a no ball at the start of the 12th over.

They lost a lot of their momentum, although Nick Thorne (18) threatened briefly by taking three fours from a Ryan McKendry over before being caught on the boundary.

Harry Collinson did much to keep Sessay in check, taking 2-19 from five overs during the second half of the innings, while McKendry took 3-44 as Sessay closed on 117-6.

Thirsk made a shaky start in reply with Craig Easton (2-15) causing them early problems and, at 60-5, Sessay looked to be getting the upper hand. But a fine partnership between McKendry (48no) and Matthew Hogg (23no) saw Thirsk home with two balls remaining.

Acomb took advantage of Sessay’s slip with a five-wicket win at Helperby.

Top scorers in Helperby’s 98-7 were Atish Chouhan with 22 and Dan Spink with 21, while Matt Dale (2-18) and Charlie Brookes (2-11) made things difficult for the hosts. Aidan Burton’s 45 then proved to be the cornerstone of Acomb’s reply as they took the points.

Sheriff Hutton went into their match at Alne needing a win to draw level with their companions in distress sat the foot of the table.

Batting first, Sheriff posted a respectable 131-6, with the main contributions coming from Joe Schofield (33), Pete Batley (25) and David Hull (33). Toby Stirke emerged as Alne’s most effective bowler with 3-25.

Alne replied with 135-3, Alistair Jackson making 40, Zac Wilson 37 and Louis Cox 33 as they widened the gap on their opponents to four points.

It is still neck and neck at the top of the second division after leaders Clifton Alliance and Dringhouses both recorded victories.

Dringhouses kept up their promotion push with a convincing win at Rowntrees & Huntington. The home side batted first and struggled to 78-7, Tom Shaw making 26 and Josh DeSilva 25 not out. Tom Owen made 41 in the Dringhouses reply, which saw them reach 79-2 in only the 11th over.

Clifton Alliance’s good form continued, although they were pushed all the way at Raskelf.

Alliance batted first and made 137-6, with Alex Renton (50 ret) and Mark Taylor (34) largely responsible. Raskelf responded well through Steve Raper (52 ret) and A Baker (28), but Jake Atkinson (4-28) and Matt Phillips (3-37) did just enough to keep Alliance in the ascendancy as Raskelf closed on 127-8.

Easingwold made the short trip to Crayke, where they batted first and made 111-7, Josh Summerscales making 24 and Dan Copeland 39. Crayke’s bowling honours went to their youngsters James Pocklington, who took 3-25, and Charlie Wentworth (2-12).

Dave Allitt’s 45 kept Crayke’s reply in contention, but Summerscales took 2-9 and Crayke fell short on 97-6.