THE weather took its first toll of the Pilmoor Evening Cricket League season when four of the eight fixtures were called off.

Clifton and Newburgh, both hit by the weather, continue to lead the first division, with Helperby taking advantage of their inactivity to close the gap to one point after their win at Sheriff Hutton Bridge.

The home side batted first and their 117-4 was due in the main to the efforts of Jack Hugill (41), Rob Stevens (35) and Danny Cass (20), but this total proved to be well within Helperby’s range as half centuries from Ross McKenzie (52) and Dan Marston (51no) saw the visitors reach a comfortable 122-2.

The fixtures between Alne and Acomb, Clifton Alliance and Sessay and Thirsk versus Newburgh were all weather victims.

The second division lost only one fixture, that at Dringhouses where Sheriff Hutton were the visitors.

There was a close finish at Easingwold who batted first against Rowntrees and Huntington.

Max Cosgrove made 26, Henry Wilson (28) and Tom Wilson (20no) as Easingwold made 104-3 with Tom Shaw having the best return for the York side with 2-27. Easingwold were pegged back by M Hunter whose five overs conceded only 13 runs.

Opener Josh de Souza (53) led the R & H reply until compulsory retirement, and with Josh Summerscales returning 2-23 Easingwold got on top to leave the visitors needing 13 from the final over. This proved to be just too much and their valiant effort closed just short on 102-6.

Huby batted first at Crayke and Sean Dixon was in good form making 50 as Huby posted 115-6. Fourteen-year-old Leo Hutchinson claimed the bowling honours for Crayke with a return of 3-19. Crayke’s reply never quite had the momentum to take them to their first win, and despite 39 from Tom Hilling, 27 from Sam Fielding and 18 from Peter Carr, they closed on 105-5, with John Leckenby (2-15) and Mark Swales (3-39) taking the wickets for Huby.

Civil Service were overwhelmed in their fixture with Raskelf. They were all out for 78, Graham Purdy (25) and Ian Tessier (21) being their main scorers, with Harry Ellis (3-22) and Toby Baker (2-7) putting Raskelf on top.

Raskelf’s openers Austin Baker (46no) and Spencer Brown (23no) saw their side to a ten-wicket win.