REIGNING Foss Evening Cricket League champions Woodhouse Grange hold the top spot in division one at the halfway point of the season.

Grange claimed three points from recent title rivals Londesborough Park, who were unable to field a side for a fixture that has been fiercely contested in recent seasons.

York continued to surge up the table, recording their third consecutive victory during a trip to basement side Melbourne.

Skipper Chris Burn (40no) and Tom Love (30) helped their side post 114-6.

Melbourne battled to bely their lowly standing as they fell only five runs short thanks to Alex Romaniw (30no) and Oliver Steels (26). Kal Ahmed’s leg-breaks proved vital for York as he took 3-21.

Dunnington also had a narrow victory over previous leaders Osbaldwick thanks to an all-round performance from Adam Iyer.

Iyer (24) and Gareth Miles (37no) made runs as the Common Roaders posted 110-6. Osbaldwick were agonisingly three runs short as Iyer took 3-28.

Heworth’s victory over Stamford Bridge was much more convincing, bringing the home side level with York and Dunnington while the 2012 champions drop into the relegation zone.

Stamford Bridge made 96-8 with Danny Harper (28) top-scoring.

Heworth then raced to 102-4 with 31 balls remaining as Olly Sherwood (34no) and Steve Baxter (23) were again in the runs.

North Dalton continue to dominate division two as Jamie Nesfield and Colin Suggitt made batting difficult for visiting Thixendale.

Dale were bowled out for 89 as Nesfield (5-21) and Suggitt (3-31) shared eight wickets. Danny Broumpton (44no) then settled any Dalton nerves as they lost five wickets in chasing their target.

Dunnington Academy are pushing for successive promotions after a five-wicket win against Stockton & Hopgrove.

Kalum Perera (23no), Rich Kerrison (19) and Giles Smith (19) all made starts for Stockton in their 104-8 but were undermined by Sam Tattersall’s 3-20.

Grant Bulmer (35no), Jonny Andrew (26) and Josh Tattersall (22no) were the main architects of the chase.

Pocklington are snapping on the heels of the top two after a comfortable victory against Yapham.

Yapham made 106-7 as Luke Cattle hit 38 while Andy Anderson took 3-16 for Pocklington. Pock skipper Freddie Parry then made an undefeated 25 in a successful reply.

The Retreat scored an important victory in the relegation battle, defeating fellow strugglers Bishopthorpe by eight wickets.

Alistair Byers (3-18) and Suranga Uhrahga (3-22) rolled the Bishops for 91 before Salman Syed (52no) led The Retreat to three points.

In division three, Tang Hall Tigers recorded their first victory as an all-round performance from Jack Gabbatiss defeated high-flying Bishop Wilton.

Nick Edwards made 26 in Wilton's 105-4 as Gabbatiss took 2-26. Gabbatiss then made 66 and he was supported by Johnny Flint (29) as they took only 69 balls to reach their target with seven wickets to spare.

Leaders Bubwith beat Retreat II by five wickets.

Paul Van Dijk (2-7 from five overs) and Si Houlder (2-21 from five overs) restricted Retreat to 72-5 with Nasir Shefta making 26. Jamie Sedman (21) and Rich Readman (18) then led Bubwith home with 38 balls to spare.

Heworth’s youngsters totalled 133-6, which was enough to beat Aviva Vikings by nine runs, despite 39 from in-form Akush Sehgal and 38 not out from Joel Arnold. Paddy Slade’s 3-27 was the pick of the Heworth bowling.

Ovington moved into the promotion places with victory over struggling Heworth Nomads.

Pete Fairclough’s unbeaten 46 rebutted Craig Nichol’s 3-10 as the Nomads made 97-6.

Steve Littlewood (45no) led the Knavesmire side home by four wickets.