THERE was a run feast in the third division of the HPH York Vale Cricket League on Saturday led by York who rattled up 273-2 in their win over Askham Bryan YPO.

This was closely followed by York University Staff who reached 256-8 at Drax and Thorpe Willoughby who hit 242-4 against Woodhouse Grange.

Heworth still lead the division despite their 74-run defeat at Wistow but the pace is hotting up behind them.

Acomb had their lead at the top of division four trimmed by bottom club Heworth in a fluctuating game. Heworth seemed to have the game in their pockets when chasing 153 to win but lost their last seven wickets for 30 runs, the game ending in the first tie in the league this season.

There was a personal triumph for the league's results secretary Andy Copeland, who top scored for Bishopthorpe in the win against a Malton and Old Malton side that included his brother. The victory enabled Bishopthorpe to leapfrog into second place.

Huntington dismissed Burn for the day's lowest score of 66 to record an easy win while Pocklington raced to a nine wicket win over Melbourne.

There was no change at the top of division one as Askham Bryan YPO continue to set the pace.

Norwich Union lead the chasing pack after beating Drax by 30 runs with North Duffield in close attendance after their 10-wicket thrashing of Tollerton.

Stockton & Hopgrove beat Westow but they still have a lot of leeway to make up as Bishopthorpe, a place above them, beat Fulfordgate by 2 wickets.

Burn, the only undefeated team in the league, were taken to the limit by Kelfield. Chasing 189 to win, they scraped home with their last pair at the wicket to go well clear at the top of the second division.

Copmanthorpe finished their game at Ben Johnson in style with a six to seal their five-wicket win and retain second place.

In form Stillingfleet had the better of Wheldrake while at the other end of the table, Burton Salmon's won at Ovington, who have a mountain to climb if they are to avoid relegation.

Ovington's second team go from strength to strength in division five after another maximum from their batsmen. But Copmanthorpe ran them close going down by just eight runs.

Thorpe Willoughby also reached maximum batting points when beating Selby and there was a second win for Sheriff Hutton over Stockton & Hopgrove.

HPH York Vale League

Division One

Askham Bryan YPO 273-2 beat British Sugar

Bishopthorpe 161-8 beat Fulfordgate 157-8 by 2 wkts.

North Duffield 114-0 beat Tollerton 110-5 by 10 wkts.

Norwich Union 176-5 beat Drax 146-9 by 30 runs.

Stockton & Hopgrove 127-2 beat Westow 126 by 8 wkts.

Division Two

Ben Johnson 147-8 lost to Copmanthorpe 148-5 by 5 wkts.

Burn 189-9 beat Kelfield 188-6 by 1 wkt.

Ovington 171 lost to Burton Salmon 198-8 by 27 runs.

Thixendale 136-3 beat Hirst United 134-7 by 7 wkts.

Wheldrake 131 lost to Stillingfleet 145 by 14 runs

Division Three

Clifton Alliance 144 lost to Malton & Old Malton 187 by 43 runs.

Drax II 119 lost to York University Staff 256-8 by 137 runs.

Thorpe Willoughby 242-4 beat Woodhouse Grange 173-9 by 69 runs.

Wistow 174-8 beat Heworth 100-9 by 74 runs.

York 273-2 beat Askham Bryan YPO II 121 by 152 runs

Division Four

Heworth II 153 tied with Acomb 153-3

Huntington 150-6 beat Burn II 66 by 84 runs.

Malton & Old Malton II 148-7 lost to Bishopthorpe II 149-5 by 5 wkts.

Pocklington 150-2 beat Melbourne 149 by 8 wkts.

Tadcaster Magnets 169-6 beat Selby 147-6 by 22 runs.

Division Five

Copmanthorpe II 168-8 lost to Ovington II 176 by 8 runs.

Selby II 126-9 lost to Thorpe Willoughby II 171-7 by 45 runs.

Sheriff Hutton 122 beat Stockton & Hopgrove II 105 by 17 runs.

Updated: 10:18 Monday, July 26, 2004