RESULTS in the penultimate round of fixtures in the Pilmoor Evening Cricket League mean there will be an intriguing last-day fixture, with Sessay’s home match with Newburgh determining the destination of the First Division title.

Sessay maintained their one-point advantage at the top with victory at Helperby, while Newburgh kept up the pressure on the leaders by winning at Acomb, thereby ending their hopes of retaining the title.

Clifton Alliance also won, but they cannot add the First Division title to the Second Division crown they won last year, while Alne’s relegation was confirmed when they conceded their fixture to Thirsk, the only side they could have caught.

They will be replaced in the First Division next season by Dringhouses, who were confirmed as Second Division champions by beating Crayke, while there were also wins for Huby, Easingwold and improving Rowntrees & Huntington.

Helperby batted first against Sessay, and their 97-4 was mainly due to an unbeaten 61 from Luis Rees-Hughes, Trevor Chibvodgodze chipping in with 17.

Mark Jackson had the best return for Sessay with 2-27, while Stephen Langstaff’s economical five-over spell saw him claim 1-10.

Sessay lost an early wicket when they replied, but once Stuart Peirse and Mark Jackson had seen off the opening attack, their partnership flourished and they took Sessay to a comfortable 99-1 in the 16th over, Peirse finishing on 57 not out and Jackson on 37 not out.

Acomb, still with an outside chance of retaining their title, entertained fellow hopefuls Newburgh.

Batting first, Acomb reached 112-8, with Matt Dale making 25, Aidan Burton 20 and Brandon Weal 16 not out, while in Newburgh’s consistent all-round attack, the father-and-son combination of Jason and Josh Sargent claimed 2-17 and 2-32 respectively, with Luke Ramsay taking 3-20.

Ramsay starred with the bat when Newburgh replied, and his partnership with Tommy Banks proved pivotal, Banks making 53 and Ramsay being unbeaten on 44 when Newburgh’s well-paced reply against accurate home bowling reached a successful conclusion at 116-3 with two balls remaining.

Clifton Alliance continued to enjoy a fine season with a seven-wicket triumph over Sheriff Hutton Bridge.

Bridge's 110-7 was largely due to the efforts of Ben Gill (31), 24 not out from Danny Cass and 20 from Mark

Fisher, while Dave Skaith (2-14) and Ryan Partington (3-43) did well for Clifton.

The Clifton reply was started by Nic Hindle’s 30, and Jamie Butt was 37 not out when Clifton won at 113-3 in the 17th over.

Thirsk, due to entertain Alne, took the points by default, with Alne unable to raise a side.

Dringhouses clinched the Second Division title with victory over Crayke after posting an imposing 169-2, Andrew Kenyon and Jacob Green each making half-centuries, supported by 26 from Liam Hancy and 21 not out from Andrew Simpson.

Crayke responded well through Ian Pears, whose 33 included six fours and a six, Graeme Dawson (21), Peter Carr (16) and Dave Allitt (16no), but they closed well adrift on 126-6, with Ben Johnson taking 2-15 for Dringhouses.

Easingwold had an emphatic win at Civil Service, whose 75-6 included 21 not out from Andrew Knights and 20 from Will Phelps, with Josh Summerscales (2-17) and Toby Wells (2-23) having the best returns for Easingwold.

In their reply, they raced to 76 without loss in less than ten overs, Max Cosgrove making 51.

Raskelf batted first against Rowntrees & Huntington and their 123-8 included 41 from Brad Clark and an unbeaten 30 from Harry Ellis, with Steve Beales' return of 4-12 doing most to keep Raskelf in check, Joe Nightingale claiming 2-24.

Regular contributors Josh de Silva (34), Tom Shaw (26no) and Beales (38no) then took their side to the win at 127-3.

Huby took first innings against Sheriff Hutton and saw Jake Fox make 50 and Thomas Piercy a 12-ball 42, with Richard Armitage taking 3-75 out of 139-7.

Sheriff responded, with Joe Schofield making a quickfire 53, but none of his colleagues offered significant support, and Sheriff’s poor run continued as they closed on 111-4, with Mark Swales taking 3-69.