TITLE contenders Dringhouses gave Leeper Hare York and District League premier division new boys Copmanthorpe a lesson in finishing with a 5-1 victory.

Lee Bond and Mark Woodward gave them a two-goal half-time lead before veteran John Lake came off the bench and re-discovered his scoring touch to add another two. Bond netted the fifth. Andy Shields managed a consolation for Copmanthorpe.

Rufforth lost 4-0 at home to Wigginton Grasshoppers after dominating the early play in which Tom Mackay raced clear but 'keeper Craig Cammidge managed to save at his feet. Mackay had three more chances to open the scoring before Grasshoppers took control with three goals in ten minutes.

Dave Bonner struck the first when he headed home a corner five minutes after the break, Dominic Graham made it 2-0 with a fine solo goal and then netted from close range. Any hopes of a Rufforth revival were finally dashed when Tom Coates struck home a fine 18-yard shot.

Huntington managed three points from their home game with Dunnington with a 4-3 win.

Paul Downes put Huntington ahead only for Simon Wood to equalise for Dunnington. Kevin Martin restored Huntington's lead but Paul Fowler brought the visitors level again. Dunnington then took the lead through Sean Caffrey but Martin equalised and went on to complete his hat-trick with the winner two minutes from time.

Nestl Rowntree's inability to hold a lead continues. Mick Burdett put them in front after only ten minutes at Tate & Lyle and it was well into the second half before the Selby side levelled through Chris Harkin. T&L went on to win 3-1 with another Harkin strike and one from Daniel Rhodes.

Old Malton hit five at Bishopthorpe with Dave Bradshaw (3), Seb Towse and Phil Hillon on target. Bishopthorpe's Greg FitzMaurice scored a penalty five minutes from time.

Osbaldwick moved into mid-table security after a 3-1 home over Kartiers with goals from Steve Jackson and Mark Andrews and Mark Triffitt. Neil Taylor scored Kartiers' consolation.

The division one promotion race took another twist as Hamilton Panthers suffered a 6-2 home defeat by South Bank, while Thorpe and Haxby dropped points.

Ex-Panthers player Dave Kettlewell did the damage with a hat-trick with Mark Belleh, James Hewitson and Simon Kehoe each adding one apiece before Panthers scored late on through James Tose and Jamie Moore.

Andy Sherlock struck the St John's College goal in their 1-1 draw with leaders Thorpe United but also missed a penalty.

Haxby came from behind to take a point at home to New Earswick. Lee Metcalfe and Ken Tuite gave Earswick a 2-0 lead before Scott Barley (penalty) and James Siddle levelled. The home side then took the lead with another Barley strike but Luke Burton hit an equaliser.

Riccall managed a win in the relegation battle at home to Norwich Union. Mike Chapman gave Union the lead but Michael Carmody equalised before half-time and further goals from Jason Roughley, Darren Davies and two from goalkeeper Mark Sanderson gave Riccall the points.

Sanderson scored when his long clearance caught his opposite number off his line and, having acquired a taste for scoring he stepped up to take a late penalty for good measure. Richard Hunter also netted for the visitors.

Stamford Bridge took a point at Post Office to halt a run of defeats which has seen them slide into a relegation place. Andy Bonarious and Chris Driscoll put PO 2-0 up but Simon Walters rescued a point for Bridge, his equaliser coming with only two minutes to go.

Heslington became favourites for promotion from division two, alongside Easingwold, after a 2-1 home win over Ouseburn while Wilberfoss lost at Selby RSSC.

Stuart Dickinson's 35-yard free-kick opened Heslington's account and he forced the Ouseburn defence into conceding an own goal for the second. Ouseburn pulled a late goal back.

Steve O'Mahoney scored the only goal as he headed home a 25th minute corner to send Wilberfoss to their fifth defeat of the season.

Moor Lane went ahead at home to Fulford when a defender headed a James Preston corner into his own net but Fulford grabbed a point when Paul Cooper scored with the last kick of the game.

Poppleton and Elvington Harriers drew an exciting game 4-4. Joe Vaughan put Pop 2-0 up. Luke Dove struck to keep Harriers in contention but Craig Theaker restored the home side's two-goal advantage. The visitors then enjoyed a scoring spree with goals from Nick Craven, Dave Lunn and Paul Culkin giving them a 4- 3 lead before Theaker struck Poppleton's point-saver.

Huby were out of luck at Stillington when led 2-0 through Steve Johnson and Gary Goodwin. Huby hit three in the second half through Lee Brimicombe, Craig Richardson and Craig Dodsworth but Stillington responded with goals from John Thornton and Wayne Howell to win 4-3.

Division Three leaders Tockwith won 4-0 at LNER Builders with goals from Ben Tobin, Graham Hutchinson (2) and Andy Wilson.

White Horse slipped up 3-2 at Sheriff Hutton where Dan Lazenby and Simon Roy (2) earned them victory after Michael Cockeram (penalty) and Nigel Chester pulled Sheriff level.

Ten-man York RI won 7-3 at Rawcliffe, running away with the game after having a man dismissed. Their marksmen were David White, Darren Sellers, Sean Stockdale, Nick Hutchinson (2), Steve Abbott, and Carl Welch. Matt Fearn, Andy Chapman and Ricky Hunter netted for Rawcliffe.

Updated: 10:23 Monday, February 16, 2004