FULFORDGATE opened up a 30-point gap at the head of division two after victory over close rivals Ben Johnson in yet another rain-hit HPH York Vale Cricket League programme.

Both sides went into the game joint top with 120 points but Fulfordgate took maximum points with a six-wicket win.

Covers at Escrick Park ensured play was possible although the game was reduced to 30 overs a side. The home side found batting tough, posting just 104-6 thanks mainly to Chris Hyde’s 47 and a useful 28 from Jamie Agnew. Alan Baldock was Fulford’s star bowler with 3-22, his son Dave taking 2-14.

Eighteen-year-old wicketkeeper-batsman Liam Hancey powered ’Gate to victory in 27.1 overs with a superb unbeaten 62, Steve Wragg taking two of the four wickets to fall.

The only game in division one saw Burn crush struggling Clifton Alliance by 149 runs. Ed Clark hit 62 not out and Lee Adamson 54 as Burn reached 250-3 before declaring after 36 overs.

None of Alliance’s top five batsmen managed double figures and they were only able to limp to 98-9 at the close, Adam Prescott having figures of 12-6-24-3.

The Selby area did manage to escape the bulk of the deluge and play went ahead at Burton Salmon, where the home side made short work of six-man Huntington.

Tom Shaw, a regular member of Huntington’s Senior League side, hit an unbeaten 76 as the visitors made 144-4 before running out of batsmen. Inevitably, there were gaps in the field when Salmon batted and Kevin Waite took full advantage with 59 not out as he and Adrian Davies (27no) saw the home side to a seven-wicket win in 29.3 overs.

After the match, Huntington, who have been struggling for numbers all season, resigned from the Vale League with immediate effect.

Their decision to quit comes just a few weeks after fellow division five side Drax pulled out of the league, also because they were struggling to raise a team.

Huntington had been members of the Vale League since 1996 and have indicated that they will reorganise over the winter and apply to rejoin the league.

The only other league game to beat the weather was in division six where Woodhouse Grange won at Selby II thanks to a fine all-round performance by Pete Townsley.

Early wickets for Keiran Heeley, who tallied 7-2-9-3, had Grange on the back foot, but Townsley’s 42 got them up to 115-9 at tea, Mick Bell having taken 3-19 for Selby.

The home side’s run-chase got off to a dreadful start, staggering to 4-3, which included a couple of run-outs. Alen Bowden (37) led the fightback, but Townsley came on to take 4-16 in eight overs to secure a 25-run win for Grange.

The President’s Cup preliminary round replay between Heworth II and Askham Bryan produced another thriller. The first game ended in a tie and this time the Elmpark Way outfit edged a nine-run win and will entertain Stamford Bridge in the first round.

Press performance of the week

Teenager Liam Hancey who sped Fulfordgate to victory with an unbeaten 62 in the division two top-of-the table clash with Ben Johnson.