THE match between leaders Hull Zingari and second-placed Sewerby was billed as the game of the day in the Hunters York & District Senior League First Division but before the players in that game had even begun to think about tea, Knaresborough had already wrapped up the points needed to overtake whichever of that pair lost.

Sam Davies took 8-21 as Ripon were bowled out for just 46 inside 21 overs at Studley Road, and it took the visitors less than ten overs to reach their target for the loss of a single wicket.

By way of contrast, the match between the two sides which had occupied the promotion places at the start of play was a high-scoring affair, with over 500 runs in total before Hull Zingari emerged as victors with two wickets and three overs to spare.

Nick Gibson led the way for the visitors, making 91, and when Lyndon Warcup (47) and Scott Cooper (41) paved the way for Steve Janey's unbeaten 67, a competitive-looking total of 266-5 was reached.

Jack Storey made an early dent in the target with 73 but it was left to Ryan Kirk (55no), whose previous best this season was 19, and Rod Hodson (30no), with just four runs to his name prior to the match, to guide their side to a valuable victory.

The match between Flockton & Flixton and Dringhouses produced an even closer finish, with the home side winning with just three balls to spare at Filey Road.

Luke Smith finished with 3-18 as the visitors were restricted to 177-8, despite 72 from George Wilson and 30 from Tom Storr.

Tom Norman finished 63 not out for the hosts, who also had Richard Malthouse (47) to thank as they made it two wins from their last three.

There were no such dramas at Elm Park Way, where Ben Kempley's second century in three weeks set visitors Harrogate on the way to a 37-run victory over Heworth.

Kempley scored 102 to add to the 114 made against Hull in a total of 252-7, which included 3-45 from Ryan Whitley.

Heworth refused to go down without a fight, Neil Martin top-scoring with 62 in an innings which also contained an unbeaten 45 from Chris Barratt, 30 from Sean Leetham and 31 from Will Huffer, but all their efforts were to no avail as Ben Bartlett finished with 4-37 as the home side were all out for 215.

Both matches contested between sides in the bottom four ended up going the way of the home side as Beverley Town overcame Selby by six wickets and the east-coast battle between Hull and Hornsea ended in a draw, with Hull taking the lion's share of the points.

At Norwood Park, James Emery (5-55) bowled the hosts into a strong position, with Selby closing on 191-9, Matthew Hoyle top-scoring with 72.

Alan Acklam (56) and Kieran Simpson (43) responded for the hosts, with Andrew Burton remaining unbeaten at the end on 32.

Hull's 235-6 owed much to Fergus Wilkinson's unbeaten century but also included 39 from Chris Lound.

Their side missed out on full points as they were unable to secure Hornsea's final wicket, with the visitors ending up on 218-9, with Adam Newington (43), Richard Medforth (36) and Jonathan Fisher (36) all having contributed, while Gavin Wilkinson was the pick of the bowlers with 3-45.