REIGNING premier division champions Woodhouse Grange strengthened their grip on top spot as they beat York II by six wickets in the Hunters York & District Senior Cricket League.

Will Stephen carried York’s batting as he made an unbeaten 63, but his side were only able to total 148 as Andrew Horner took 3-19 and Steve Burdett 3-43.

Tom Young made 64 and Chris Bilton an undefeated 41 as Grange recorded their fifth win of the season.

Sewerby are finding premier division life difficult and suffered a fifth defeat when entertaining Clifton Alliance.

Lewis Beasley made 47 not out and Tom Chippendale added 37 in Sewerby’s 175-8, while Liam Green had 3-31 for Alliance.

Shaun Acton claimed 3-57 in the Alliance reply but Joe Ashdown hit an unbeaten 81 and John Hunter was on 26 not out when a six-wicket win was registered.

Easingwold lost a little ground on the leaders but still moved up to second place after gaining a profitable draw with fourth-placed Fenner.

The Piercys were Easingwold’s batting heroes, with Martin making 67 and Steve 62 in a total of 222-7, while Fenner mustered 156-8 in response.

Second-placed Beverley dropped down the table when they had to settle for the worst of a draw at Stamford Bridge.

Stamford posted a target of 183-7, headed by Paul Milner’s unbeaten 33. Matt Mudd took 3-44 for Beverley, whose response was led by Faisal Abid's 26.

The bowling of skipper Matt Beckett, with 4-35, and D Davies, who had 3-35, held Beverley to 168-9.

Batting first at Studley Royal, Sheriff Hutton Bridge found Steve Walmsley a handful as he claimed 4-37 with his good spin bowling.

Skipper Adam Fisher top-scored with 40, but a first innings total of 150-7 appeared to be inadequate when Studley made a promising start.

Walmsley fell for 39 and his dismissal allowed the visitors to get back into the game with Mark Fisher taking 4-21 and Ben Harrison 4-56. The Royals held out for a draw at 128-9.

Two sides in the bottom three met at Dunnington and an exciting game ended with Hull Zingari winning by one wicket.

Dunnington totalled 173-9 with Jack Bolam’s 42 the best knock, backed by Kev Bradley (29), Adam Sutcliffe (32) and Tom Loten (25).

Adam Iyer then took 4-55 and Josh Barrett 4-47, but Luke Hills' unbeaten 52 saw Zingari sneak home.