Rain affected the league programme for the fourth successive week, this time on a major scale when widespread rain caused the bulk of games to be abandoned or not started because of adverse ground conditions.
Division One leaders Sheriff Hutton Bridge increased their lead when they had the better of a draw against Ripon when they cracked 122 off nine overs when the game was reduced to 30 overs. The Bridge had made sedate progress to 67 for two in 21 overs when a lengthy interruption reduced the game to the minimum of 30. Paul Scaling then blasted an unbeaten 73 off just 32 balls, Paul Oldfield added 51 and Peter Crowder took just nine balls to reach 26 as the Bridge reached 189 for four. Ripon then sportingly continued their innings in adverse weather to gain a draw at 103 for six with Howard Wooding making a defiant 63 not out as Mike Smith captured five for 50.
Bridlington took over the second division leadership when they beat previous leaders Hornsea by two wickets in the gloom as the game ended at 8.45. Bridlington's victory surge was headed by Hafeez Khalid who raced to a 55-ball century with eight fours and ten sixes including 28 in one over. Bridlington overtook Hornsea's 201 for six in the 41st over.
One of the few games to reach a conclusion saw Goole Town gain a quick victory in division two at the expense of bottom placed Stamford Bridge, who were shot out for a mere 67. Gautam Sharma, who took four for 25 and Dave England with three for 35, were early wicket takers before 18-year-old Richard Mann delivered the killer blow by taking three wickets without conceding a run. Graham Tipping retaliated with three for 34, but Anthony Gibbins, who top scored with 24, helped Goole reach a four-wicket victory before the weather had chance to intervene.
Premier division leaders Pickering had a wasted trip to Sessay where the completion of the toss heralded the deterioration of the weather which prevented play starting. The situation at Easingwold was only marginally better when the game against Dunnington was abandoned in the seventh over after the hosts had reached 14 for no wicket.
Osbaldwick's Dave Thompson had reduced Heworth to 126 for seven with a five for 56 return, but the weather ended the affair after 41 overs while 39 overs were bowled at Carlton Towers who had reached 109 for five against Thirsk for whom Barry Petty had three for 25. Paul Wright 29 and Lee Hanson 32 had measured success for Carlton.
Entertaining Acomb, Woodhouse Grange had reached 64 for four when the halt came after 13 overs. Andrew Sykes had claimed three wickets at a rather costly 55 runs whereas Dave Sykes had taken one for nine.
In a completed game in division five New Earswick bowler Christian Soulsby moved to the head of the queue for the monthly bowling award when he took seven for 19 to dismiss his former club Rowntrees for 51 and set up an eight-wicket victory in the local derby game.
Wilberfoss' James Crawford made the day's solitary century when his unbeaten 104 helped his side to 214 for one against a Thorp Arch side who were then dismissed for 52 in their sixth division encounter.
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