WOODHOUSE Grange paceman Joe Hughes got his side off to a terrific start to the Hunters York and District Senior Cricket League premier division season.

He struck twice in the opening over to remove Dunnington's Harwood Williams and Hamid Khan for ducks.

Paul Miles then made 71 but Tom Quinn's 3-22 helped to dismiss Dunnington for 119.

Grange survived the loss of an early wicket to win in a canter with Jonathon Bean (58no) and Simon Dwyer (54no) sharing an unbroken stand of 113 which gained them a nine-wicket victory.

Champions Easingwold were involved in a thriller against Sessay but came off second best in a draw.

Matthew Till shone with both bat and ball for Sessay, hitting his tenth league century when he stroked 113 after totally dominating an opening stand of 103 with Matt Wilkie (26). Nick Harrison (37) and Dave Johnson (48no) maintained the momentum as Sessay reached 260-4.

Jonathon Marwood followed his President's Trophy century of the previous weekend with 75 for Easingwold while Paul Skilbeck (30), Andrew Dawson (54) and Dan Copeland (36) kept their side firmly on course for victory before a late flurry of wickets left them agonisingly short at 258-9. Till followed his ton with 4-66.

Thirsk's camp were rocked when pace ace Barry Petty announced his retirement from first team cricket just before the start of the season.

However, they overcame his absence to record a convincing victory over Hull Zingari. Sixteen-year-old Liam McKendry made a personal best 95 as he and Sean Holmes (47) shared a second wicket stand of 102. Skipper Dave Towse chipped in with 26no as Thirsk reached 203-3. Towse took 5-49 in a 20-over stint and Anthony Elders grabbed 4-10 in 6.4 overs as Zingari slipped to 124 all out.

Heworth expunged the doom-laden pre-season prophecies by defeating Malton & Old Malton by 20 runs. Skipper Richard Bowling top scored with 39 while Andy Parkinson with 38, Andre Wickramsinge (25) and Paul Neal (25no) helped them to a respectable 200-8.

Parkinson was again in the spotlight as he grabbed 4-18 to dismiss the visitors for 180 despite a knock of 64 by Neil Johnson.

Clifton Alliance appear to have added another top overseas player to the list of visitors to their Shipton Road ground in the form of Australian James Packman.

Pickering batted first and made 221-8 with Mark Shepherd (55) and Chris Nicholls (73) making the bulk of the runs. Packman took 3-28 as he benefited from the scramble for quick runs in the final overs. He then hit an unbeaten 110 to see Clifton home by eight wickets. Other Alliance runs came from Richard Musgrave (56).

All 20 wickets fell at Sheriff Hutton Bridge where the home side suffered a 49-run defeat against Acomb after their middle order collapsed.

Richard Sykes showed his class in making 61no while captain Scott Nicholls (33) and Andy Tute (37) gave sound support. In reply, Steve Crowder made 62 and Paul Oldfield's 32 put Bridge on to a sound footing before Adam Coulson (3-37) and Adam Green (3-19) scythed through the home line-up as the innings folded from 121-3 to 147 all out.