Hemingbrough's victory over rivals Bubwith ensured the league newcomers promotion in their first season in the league.

However, they face a worrying wait to see whether they will become division three champions as, having completed their fixtures, they will be hoping that Hovingham gain no more than 27 points from their final game against Bubwith.

Maqsood Akbar seemed set for his eighth century but was dismissed for 81. Dave Kerr weighed in with 53 but Dave Stephenson's creditable 6-67 held Hemingbrough to 184-9.

When Bubwith batted, Brian Last made 34 and Edwin Smith 27 but a devastating spell by Stuart Cox ripped them apart and had them all out for 134. Cox had the impressive figures of 7-19, including a hat-trick.

Hovingham suffered a setback in their title tilt when their game against Pickering was washed out after 27 overs.

With the Pickering ground being used for football, the game was played at Folkton & Flixton, who have renewed their bid to join the York Senior League. Pickering were taken to full batting points by R Aconley (40), K Aconley (62) and Rob Grey (41), who helped them reach 217-8 as Richie Brown took 4-56.

In reply, Paul Ryan fell for 37 but Stuart Prest, with 46no, helped his side to 117-2 when they rain gained the upper hand.

Yapham's Dick Wright hit exactly 100 as he shared a second-wicket stand of 94 with Trevor Walker (48no), which enabled their side to earn a draw at 186-3.

Earlier New Earswick's decision to bat first had been fully justified when they made 234-6 with John Hetherton (29), Kev Barker (30), James Routledge (25) and Craig Stimpson (27) building a launching pad which enabled Andy Freeman to blast off an unbeaten 67.

Bolton Percy's Jamie Rigby was another centurion when his unbeaten 101 helped his side to a seven-wicket win at Civil Service, whose first X1 were making their final appearance at their Boroughbridge Road base.

The Service club, having played on the ground for 52 years, are being forced to quit their ground at the end of the season to make way for housing development and the disappearance of yet another recreational facility has put the future of the club in serious jeopardy.

Alex Livie made 50, Tim Holvey 29 and stalwart Mike Bradley 23, while Bolton's Peter Houseman took 3-21 as Service totalled 154-9. Bolton toiled on 60-3 before Jamie Rigby was joined by brother Alistair, who made 37no in an unbroken stand of 95.

Mike Taylor (74) and veteran spinner Jerry Dunnington, who took 5-38, tipped the scales in Heworth's favour in a draw with Woodhouse Grange. Richard Woodmansey aided Heworth's batting cause with 31 in a total of 172-6 as Nick Barrett took 3-31.

Updated: 11:44 Monday, September 08, 2003