Petty stays in front

League leading wicket taker Barry Petty claimed 5 for 43 for Thirsk at Heworth, taking his seasonal haul to 56 wickets, but the home side were still able to draw at 150-7.

Earlier a second wicket stand of 139 between Neal Stevenson, who made 92, and one-time Heworth player Des Wyrill (62) had built on opener Lincol McCrae's 37 and helped Thirsk amass a total of 245-4. Chris Mead led Heworth's reply with 74 and Richard Bowling assisted with 42 but Petty's endurance minimised any chance of a Heworth victory.

Osbaldwick emerged from one of the worst spells in the club's history to complete a memorable double over Woodhouse Grange as the two Osbaldwick sides each recorded three wicket victories. The club's two sides could only boast one victory between them in the first 15 games of the season but ended the dismal record in fine style as the first team successfully overhauled a Woodhouse target of 249-6, making one of the highest second innings totals of 253-7 while the second side earned their first victory of the season in reaching a winning 148-7.

League championship favourites Easingwold increased their lead to 41 points with their win over Driffield for their only real rivals, Clifton Alliance, were frustrated at Acomb where the home side gained a draw after Clifton had rattled up 250.

At the foot of the division, Osbaldwick's win has lifted them above Driffield and Pocklington who are now staring at relegation.

West Indian star Alvin Kallicharran played his best innings for Dunnington in making an unbeaten 67 which helped his side maintain their thrust towards the First Division title. Dunnington are 32 points ahead of Ripon who narrowly beat Crayke after only making a first innings score of 101-9.

Ripon's promotion challenge appeared to be in jeopardy as Andy Dawson (5-57) and Mick Hutchinson (4-40) bowled the village side into a strong position.

However, Crayke's batsmen then found run-making rather hazardous as they struggled against Ripon's Aussie Tim Collins and Marcus Groundwater.

Nevertheless, a Crayke win was seemingly on the cards when only ten runs were needed off five overs with two wickets in hand. The Ripon bowlers were not to be denied and the final Crayke wicket fell off the penultimatic ball to leave them six runs short at 95 all out. Collins claimed 4-28 and Groundwater 3 for 40.

York lost ground when they fell foul of the talents of Stamford Bridge's overseas star Mark Owen whose five for 66 and 75 took Bridge to a six wicket win.

Huntington's Steve Beales came to his side's rescue in Division Four when his 8 for 21 dismissed Selby II for a mere 41 after his own side had been dismissed for 101.

Thirsk seconds had to switch their game with Huby to their opponent's ground because of a race meeting and found themselves on the receiving end of an eight wicket defeat inspired by Huby's Paul Moore who took 5-26 and then made 51. His efforts had Thirsk all out for 79 with Dan Grainger supporting with 3-37.

Sessay moved back to the top of the closely-fought Fifth Division when they recorded a four-wicket win over Bolton Percy who could only make 132-9 as Craig Costello claimed 6-31. John White top scored for Bolton with 42 while John Lawrenson made 35. As with the first team, Sessay's runs came from the Till family, this time in the form of Keith who made 34 and James who made 33. John Topping made his mark with 4-33 but could not prevent Sessay reaching a winning score of 133-6.

RESULTS

Premier Division: Pocklington 161 for 9 (M Atkinson 37, I Camwell 55, M Yates 3-51); Pickering 143 for 8 (C Aconley 46, M Shepherd 32, K Hinch 4-36).

Driffield 144 (A Morfitt 28, D Williamson 34no, m Robinson 4-19); Easingwold 147 for 6 (J Marwood 53no, J Dowdall 3-34).

Thirsk 245 for 4 (L McCrae 37, N Stevenson 92, D Wyrill 61); Heworth 150 for 7 (R Bowling 42, C Mead 74, B Petty 5-42).

Clifton Alliance 250 (J Southam 116, S Hill 65, D Russell 30no, R Sykes 4-69); Acomb 153 for 8 (A Tute 26, D Sykes 48no).

Whitkirk 170 for 9 (R Horner 29, N Edgecock 27, S Nawaz 4-50); Sheriff Hutton Br 171 for 7 (M Smith 35, P Crowder 59no, B Snow 28, A Proctor 4-54).

Woodhouse Grange 149 for 6 (T Rollock 92, N Hadfield 64, J Bean 60, S White 5-77); Osbaldwick 253 for 7 (R Carew 100, A Hall 58, M D Cooper G Hogg 29, T Rollock 4-103).

Division One: Ripin 101 for 9 (M Hutchinson 4-40, A Dawson 5-57); Crayke 95 (R Collins 4-28, m Groundwater 3-40).

Sessay 119 for 9 (M Till 35, R Till 48no, B Sayer 3-26); Beverley Town 120 for 5 (R Taylor 32, A Burton 27, J Mitchell 29).

Dringhouses 122 (P Cannings 35, M Fenton 30, J F Grant 4-26, S Precious 5-30); Dunnington 125 for 1 (Akallincharran 67no, S Kellett 42).

Wilberfoss 176 for 5 (I Clish 72, K Davison 31, R Houghton 2-52); Civil Service 131 for 8 (N Olney 38, K Davison 4-18, A Gray 3-47).

York 150 for 8 (A Kay 39, S Gorman 33, M Owens 75, J Dodds 29, K Barton 4-40).

Duncombe Park 169 (G Denny 28, T Friend 50, D England 6-52); Goole Town 172 for 3 (S Foster 84no, N Chatham 31, A Smith 33no).

Division Two: Clifton Alliance 209 for 9 (M Cousens 93, J Henderson 49, J Bladen 4-43); Clifton Alliance II 88 (D Longhurst 4-42).

Rowntrees 121 (S Landers 3-43, R Watson 4-41, K Waites 3-12); Carlton Towers 122 for 2 (P Wright 39, P Hoyle 37no).

Castleford 127 (A Daniells 44, N Bresnan 35, A Kirk 5-30); Bridlington 128 for 2 (B Rudd 68no, I Shipley 25no).

Woodhouse Grange II 147 (H Johnson 56, G Gosling 4-36); Osbaldwick II 148 for 7 (S Hall 42, P Hall 27no, P Bolton 4-37).

Hovingham 167 (J Rounthwaite 37, S Prest 51, T Smith 31no, P Hart 4-26, M Holden 3-45); Scarborough 154 for 9 (L Jennison 68, M Hemmingway 3-24).

Stillington 224 for 9 (C King 75, D Herbert 29, R Hunter 2-62); Bubwith 180 for 6 (E Smith 50, G Moore 49, D Berks 43, C King 3-59).

Division Three: Easingwold II 102 (R Jones 42no, P Downey 6-53, J Weatherfield 3-11); Tadcaster Magnet 103 for 1 (M Hunt 43no, D Goulding 8mo).

Thorpe Arch and BS 103 (D Stroughair 5-30, J Renshaw 3-34); Acomb II (Dickinson 34, A heap 3-13, F Williams 3-27).

Heworth II 104 (M Couttie 43, M Pears 4-30); Bolton Percy 105 for 1 (N Lister 29, J Rigby 49).

Londesbrough Park 167 for 7(S Craven 35, N Swann 52); Selby Selby II (G Cardell 25, R Cooper 4-39, P Curtis 4-39).

Heslington 121 (S Anderson 35no, R Nicholson 5-43); Cawood 97 (N James 4-42, P Raper 3-20).

Division Four: Thirsk II 79 (D Bramley 28, D Grainger 3-37, P Moore 5-26); Huby 80 for 2 (P Moore 51).

Huntington 108 (A Jarvis 3-26, G Pierce 3-21); Selby II 41 (S Beales 8-21).

Pocklington II 117 for 8 (C Barlow 37, J Reynolds 3-46, M Keel 4-36); Tadcaster Magnet II 109 (N Green 32, n Morton 26, M Harrison 3-14, M Tattersall 3-25).

Sheriff Hutton Bt II 146 (D Houldridge 31, J Flint 4-31); Yapham 148 for 4 (D Wright 46, J Flint 40, P Barnes 35).

Dunnington II 194 for 4 (D Wilson 100no, T Boddye 3-55); Carlton Towers II 152 for 7 (Sykes 30, D Graves 30, K Pocklington 34no, Cooper 5-21).

New Earswick 168 (C Stimpson 74, R Armitage 5-35, P Glaves 3-48); Sheriff Hutton 142 (C Dodsworth 25, B Tompkins 40, C Stimpson 4-80, P Stimpson 3-29).

Division Five: Cawood II 122 (M Taylor 38, M Hewitson 7-58); New Earswick II 41, (A Naylor 6-14, R Steane 3-12).

Bolton Percy II 132 for 9 (J Lawrenson 35, J White 42, C Costello 6-31); Sessay II 133 for 6 (K Till 34, J Till ,33, J Topping 4-33).

Stamford Bridge II 163 (G Flint 46, P Tonks 27, I Chapman 4-44); Hovingham II 151 for 8 (G Mosey 43, J Ward 37, M Beckett 4-74).

Stillington II 184 for 7 (R Gilbert 30, B Drummond 29, S Perrin 52, D North 26, D Mather 3-66); Civil Service II 112 for 7 (D Turner 31 no, C Wakefield 3-39).

Dringhouses Il 200 for 8 (J Futter 62, T Nicholls 57,m p Harrison 5-83); Rowntrees II 172 for 6 (M Shirley 41, A Main 38, A Ingram 31no, P Topping 26).

NatWest Tyne League

Haydon Bridge's win over Stocksfield enabled them to open up a seven points lead over Haltwhistle.

Batting first, Haydon Bridge reached 195 for six thanks mainly to Roberts Gibson (81), Neil Kendrew (32) and Richard Hines (32). Responding, Stocksfield slumped to 47 all out as Kevin Marshall took four for 17 and Paul Robson three for 14.

Matfen also struggled for runs, as did Haltwhistle and it was the latter who edged to a 16-runs success following a very low scoring game. It looked good for Matfen when the visitors were all for 69 but in reply the home team slumped to 53 all out as Fletcher captured five for 11 and Clark finished with three for 14.

Batting first, Haltwhistle found the bowling of Lowes (5-38) and Bass, who ended with four for 29, too much as they finished on 69 all out.

Runs were more plentiful when North Tyne defeated Allendale by 15 runs. When they made first use of the wicket, North Tyne compiled 179 for eight with Dover top scoring with 43 while for Allendale, Rutherford took four of the eight wickets to fall for 51 runs.

When Allendale batted both openers failed to score but Lee rescued the side with a timely 61 and Richardson added 41. Even so, the innings closed on 164 leaving North Tyne narrow winners. Wilkinson claimed five for 79 and Thompson took four wickets for 54 in the North Tyne attack.

After realising 175 for eight, Wylam went down by two wickets to Humshaugh whose match-winners were Ridley (50) and Baker (39no). Robson bowled a good end for Wylam, ending with four for 51 and Collins took three for 25.

Batting first, Wylam made what appeared to be a defendable total thanks in the main to Smith and Sutton who both scored half centuries while for Humshaugh Richard Pervis returned the best figures, four for 57