HAT-TRICK hero Nick Hadfield was thwarted as Heworth staged a rearguard action against Woodhouse Grange in the Hunters York & District Senior Cricket League premier division.

Leaders Grange saw their advantage at the top of the table reduced to 11 points as Heworth earned a hard-fought draw.

The game was a personal triumph for Hadfield, who hit 88 and took 6-29, including a hat-trick. Hadfield shared a third-wicket stand of 144 with Chris Bilton, who made 86 in his side’s 231-7.

Richard Walton stuck to his task to claim 5-84 for Heworth, but then saw his side slump to 89-8 with only Ian Lynch (40) fighting back.

However, the basement side then mounted a fine survival mission which underlined the merit of the league’s draw system when Tom Forsdyke (37no) and Mark Lynch (24no) added 66 in an unbroken ninth-wicket stand to earn Heworth a draw at 155-8.

Dave Chaplin inspired second-placed Stamford Bridge to a three-wicket win over Goole Town.

Chaplin’s 5-48 put his side in a good position as Goole were dismissed for 155. Chaplin hit 48 and, although Dave England (3-43) posed problems, an unbeaten 35 from Max Pimlott saw Stamford home at 156-7.

York II moved to within 13 points of the premier division summit when they won a high-scoring game against Fenner at Clifton Park.

Paul Scrowston was in commanding form for the visitors in making 83 of their 207-8. Successful bowlers were Jonny Moxon, who took 3-33, and Ryan McKendry, with 3-53.

Simon Lambert then made 35, McKendry 28 and Richard Love 27, before stalwarts Andy Kay (50no) and Robert Flack (42no) took their side to a six-wicket victory.

The highest premier division total of the day was posted by Beverley Town, whose batsmen made 267-6 at Norwood Park against champions Dunnington.

The innings featured 84 from Jamie Mitchell and 81 by Jon Fisher.

All-rounder Dave Johnson took 3-78 but he and Dunnington’s other big batting guns failed to ignite as Simon Roe bagged 6-48 in 16 overs.

Youngster Johnny Andrew, with 29, helped the visitors hang on for a draw at 152-9.

Persimmon National Village Cup holders Sessay are in the relegation zone after losing by eight wickets at Easingwold. Batting first, Sessay lost four wickets cheaply, but a handy stand between Mark Wilkie and Jacob Spencer added 122 for the fifth wicket before Wilkie fell for 85. Spencer was 61 not out when Sessay’s innings closed at 195-5.

Stephen Piercy (41) was one of the two Easingwold wickets to fall before Martin Piercy (84no) and Paul Skilbeck (53no) settled it.

The division’s highest aggregate of the day was at Studley Royal, where the hosts had the better of a draw with Clifton Alliance in a match that produced 459 runs and 14 wickets.

Studley’s Rob Nicholson made an unbeaten 130 and Gary Blackburn supported with 60 as the Royals reached 257-7, despite a 3-56 haul by Francis Hawthorne. Clifton’s reply of 202-7 contained half-centuries from Adam Slater (65) and John Gilham (57), but Steve Walmsley took 4-60.