Cowell in command

A unbeaten 75 from Scarborough's Mark Cowell enabled the Oxbridge Yorkshire County Premier League to gain a comfortable eight-wicket win over the Costcutter York and District League in the Yorkshire Senior Inter- League Competition at Osbaldwick.

Batting first the York League struggled against tight bowling particularly by Yorkshire Academy and County Second team paceman Tom Baker who only conceded 16 runs off eight overs. Nevertheless openers Richard Sykes (Acomb) and Dave Simpson (Heworth) reached 46 before the latter was bowled by Yorkshire Colt Richard Dawson (Doncaster Town) for 28. Sykes soon followed being stumped off Castleford's Tim Grey for 15 and the same bowler then removed Colin Frank (Pickering) for five.

Clifton Alliance's Dave Taylor fell to a stunning catch by J Davies (Cleethorpes) to give Ed McKenna his first wicket and the same bowler, who was in the Yorkshire Board side that met the County XI, then decimated the York side's innings. Richard Musgrave (Clifton Alliance) made a spirited 26 before being bowled by McKenna at 103 for five and the Sheffield College bowler then went on to take five for 35 in seven overs as York struggled to 139 for nine in their 50 overs.

When the County Premier League replied Pickering's James Postill gave the York side an early boost when he had Yorkshire Colt Simon Widdup well caught at slip by Richard Sykes for just six. Mark Cowell and Castleford skipper John Randerson then embarked on a decisive partnership as they moved to 98 before the latter was dismissed for 44 by Sessay's Richard Till. Sykes again taking the catch however, this was to be the last success for the bowlers as Cowell moved to 75no and McKenna made 12no to clinch an eight wicket win with over 12 overs to spare. Wilberfoss's spinner Andy Gray produced a splendid bowling spell of 0 for 18 off ten overs but otherwise the visiting batsmen were in little difficulty.

Costcutter York and District Senior League: R Sykes st Thewliss b Grey 15, D Simpson v Dawson 28, Frank c Baker b Grey 5, D Taylor c Davies b mcKenna 4, R Musgrave b McKenna 26, m Burden b McKenna 11, J Postill c Widdup b McKenna 4, A Grey run out 4, R Till b McKenna 1, R Bilton not out 4, A Boyes not out 9. Ectras 20, Total 139. Bowling: T Baker 0-16, Davies 0-27, Dawson 1-10, Grey 2-16, Widdup 0-15, McKenna 5-35.

Oxbridge Yorkshire County Premier League: S Widdup c Sykes b Postill 6, M Cowell not out 75, J Randerson c Sykes b Till 44, E McKenna not out 12. Extras 6. Total 143-2. Bowling: Postill 1-28, Boyes 0-13, Grey 0-18, Bilton 0-30, Till 1-33, Musgrave 0-18.

Edward Readman

Memorial Trophy

Beverley batsman Tim Fordon hit a 68 ball century to help his side to a 59 run victory at Rowntrees in the remaining second round tie in the York Senior League's Edward Readman Memorial Trophy. Beverley will now visit Crayke in the quarter final on July 2.

Beverley openers Richard Todd (28) and Andy Bunton (13) gave their side a steady start before both fell to Jim Riley then a wicket apiece for Richard Tuite whose eight overs cost a mere 15 runs. Alex Ingram and Brian Burton had Beverley wobbling at 89 for five. Tim Fordon then played a magnificent innings which totally transformed the game as he put the home bowlers to the sword. He reached 50 in 47 balls and then took only 21 balls to add a further 50 as he raced to three figures. Fordon had made 115 off just 77 balls when he was caught by Tuite off Brian Burton a 200 for eight and the Beverley innings closed at 211 for nine. Paul Horner picked up three late wickets to close with three for 43.

Rowntrees openers Richard Ruite and Nick Sedgewick reached 56 before the former was caught by Fordon off Barry Sayer for 21. Sedgefield completed his half century but fell at 89 after making 56, being caught by Peter Parnaby who then grabbed three quick wickets which destroyed Rowntrees reply as they plunged to 93 for five. Alex Ingram (17) and James Riley (17no) offered token resistence but a ten man Rowntrees side were all out for 152 in the 34th over.

Beverley Town 211 for 9 (R Todd 28, T Fordon 115, P Horner 3-43, J Riley 2-43, B Burton 2-46) beat Rowntrees 152 (R Tuite 21, N Sedgewick 56, P Parnaby 4-33, Sugden 2-29), by 59 runs.

Costcutter York and District Senior League

Whitkirk's Mark Selth made 73 in an opening stand of 111 at Driffield to take over as the league's leading run scorer with 472. His side totalled 242-5 but were unable to bowl out Driffield who closed on 153-6.

Sheriff Hutton Bridge's Paul Oldfield took his wicket tally to 25 with 4-43 against Heworth whilst team mate Shakir Nawaz 4-46 kept him one wicket behind Oldfield. Bridge overtook Heworth's 124-9 with three overs to spare as they won by 4 wickets to cement their fourth place.

Newly promoted Acomb had a six wicket win over Woodhouse Grange after Dave Sykes had taken 5-76 in a prolonged 25 over stint, while Darren Barton's unbeaten 84 saw Clifton Alliance to a 6 wicket win at Thirsk for whom Andrew Hawke had made 93 not out in a total of 184-7.

Dunnington skipper Simon Kellett hit his 11th century when he made 105 in the draw against Beverley Town in Division Two but his side's lead was reduced to 25 points when Andy Grey took 6-55 made 47 as Wilberfoss beat Goole Town by 5 wickets.

Collis King took six for 12 but was on the losing side when Stillington were dismissed for 84 when chasing Harrogate's all out total of 104 in Division Two. Tadcaster Magnet batsman, Mick Ransome hit 120 to help his side to a five wicket win at Selby while Dudley Cooper's 7-34 set up a Dunnington win over the Brewer's second eleven.

Cameron Shield

The highest score of the night was recorded by Lintz who ended on 136 for five when they visited Consett. Stephen Smith recorded no fewer than 13 boundaries in 69. Richard Moody, with one six and five fours in 29 not out and David Dolan (25) were also in good form while Consett'S Shaun Kelly claimed three of the five wickets to fall for 31 runs in five overs.

Shaun Kelly then starred with the bat striking three fours in 27, but Consett could only make 86 for eight in reply.

Annfield Plain also reached three figures defeating Burnopfield by 31 runs. Batting first, the Plain ended on 116 for five as Lindow hit three fours in 31 not out while for Burnopfield Lee Stoneman had two for 27 and Chris Snowball two for 20.

Responding, Burnopfield were dismissed for 85 as Brewiss took two for 23, Harrison two for 19 and Hudson two for four.

Ryton overtook Chopwell's 75 for one which included 42 by Tams with seven wickets in tact when Brooks led his side to victory by scoring 44.

Crookhall hosted Greenside and won by eight wickets with Andrew Britton securing four boundaries in 41 and Daniel Linton three fours in 27 not out as the pair provided the bulk of Greenside's runs. Responding Crookhall were indebted to Richardson whose unbeaten 53 included a couple of sixes and seven fours.

Sacriston had 12 runs to spare defeating Whickham. Batting first the home team reached 91 for three with Martin Hubber scoring an unbeaten 38 and Andrew Dixon 33 while for Whickham Nick Humphries had two for 20 from five overs.

Whickham fell behind the clock even though Morton scored 26 and Ainley 18. Ian Nelson was in superb form for Sacriston taking five wickets for 15 runs in five overs while Andrew Dixon returned two for 15 also in a five overs spell.

At Lanchester, Shotley Bridge went down by nine runs scoring 84 for nine replying to the home team's 95 for four which included a top scoring 37 by Greg Halliday and 32 from Ben Travis.

Durham Senior League U-17

Eppleton's openers were in outstanding form when they visited South Shields and earned their side a ten wickets victory.

After the home team totalled a respectable 116 for four which included 34 by David Maughan, Eppleton raced to victory as Hunter carried his bat for 61 and Beston ended on 52 not out.

Brett was in all round form for Horden who saw off Whitburn's challenge by 39 runs. Batting first, Horden reached the top score of the night with 149 for five and Brett made 35. Responding, Whitburn were restricted to 110 for nine as Brett returned six for 30.

Despite 41 by Philip Bell, who scored more than half his team's total of 79 for nine, Boldon lost by seven runs when they hosted Gateshead Fell. Graeme Onions, with three wickets for 20 runs and Phil Hudson (3-16) were the bowlers who earned Fell their narrow victory.

Mark Moore, who made his first team debut this season, top scored with 48 not out and John Grant added 41 to Philadelphia's impressive total of 119 for two against Sunderland at Bunker Hill.

Darren Keeley then claimed three for 20 runs as Sunderland managed 71 for five.

Despite scoring 100 which included 66 not out by Cannon, Felling lost by nine wickets on their visit to Hetton Lyons. Paul Riddle top scored on 45 and Stuart Walker contributed an undefeated 37.