Heworth stormed past Clifton Alliance with three overs to spare in a high-scoring opening York and District Senior League's Hunters Premier Trophy clash.

Clifton were able to post a sound 229-7 as Chris Malthouse 46, Syd Corley 42 and Richard Musgrave 48no made runs, with Tich Winterburn taking 3-42 for the visitors.

Heworth skipper Dave Simpson then took up the challenge and made 76 while Mike Taylor added 45 before unbeaten knocks by Colin de Grandhomme 40no and Richard Bowling 30no clinched the issue.

League positions were reflected at Clifton Park where Duncombe Park, who are currently in second place in division one, inflicted a five-wicket defeat on a York II side who are currently in tenth place in the division.

Australian Jason English made 92no as he and Adam Boasman 35no restored the home side's fortunes after six wickets had fallen cheaply. Nevertheless, the final total of 163-6 proved to be inadequate as Mark Wilkie, with an unbeaten 57, and Brian Leckenby 25 saw Park to victory.

Acomb's new medium pacer, Matt Williams, who joined the club from Bristol-based Stoke Bishop CC, produced his best effort to date when his 5-33 restricted Carlton Towers to 163-9.

Carlton's runs came from Stuart Hodgson with 50 and Tim Clayton who made 43. Acomb's top order then offered little as Oral Blackford took 2-19 but the home side were rescued, partly by Paul Hemmingway, who made 28, but primarily by League Under-21 skipper Leon Sacks who made an unbeaten 76 to see his side to a four-wicket victory.

Second division Thirsk were no match for reigning league champions Easingwold and crashed to a seven-wicket defeat when the old rivals clashed at Back Lane. Simon Schwertz made 31 for Thirsk but Alan Robinson's 4-26 had them reeling to 89 all out. Jonathon Marwood then steered Easingwold to a seven-wicket win with 42.

A good all-round performance by Aussie Dave Johnson saw Sessay to a seven-wicket win over Osbaldwick in another of the lowest scoring games of the day.

Johnson took 4-26 as he and Stuart Pierse, with 3-24, dismissed Osbaldwick for 119 with only Richie Carew 43 making any impression with the bat. The overseas man then hit an unbeaten 57 to take Sessay to victory.

Malton's bowlers kept the Woodhouse Grange batsmen under a degree of control until Nick Hadfield and Steve Burdett combined to thrash 64 off the final six overs to move the total to 195-5.

Hadfield just failed to reach triple figures as he closed on 96no while his partner was unbeaten with 31.

Malton skipper Neil Johnson replied with 32 but teenage spinner Andrew Bilton proved to be a thorn in the visitors' side as his 4-29 had Malton all out for 104.

Old East Yorkshire Cup rivals met at Beverley where Pickering made a first innings total of 188-9 as Colin Frank scored 46 and Steve Beales 49no.

Home skipper Simon Roe took 4-57 and Peter Parnaby 3-22. After losing two early wickets, Beverley were led to an eight-wicket win by Olie Grantham, who made 83no and James Hodgson with 67no.

Dunnington's bid to retain the trophy for the eighth successive year got off to a damp squib when Sheriff Hutton Bridge were unable to field a team and conceded the tie.

Updated: 09:55 Tuesday, May 31, 2005