YORK Cricket Club got back on the victory trail when they comfortably disposed of Appleby Frodingham by six wickets at Clifton Park.

That enabled them to consolidate their lead in the Oxbridge Yorkshire ECB Premier League as rivals Scarborough and Sheffield Collegiate failed to earn full points victories because they were unable to bowl the opposition out. While York had a maximum eight-point haul, their rivals could manage six each, leaving the Clifton Park outfit with a nine-point lead over Scarborough.

Despite losing an early wicket to Rob Flack, Appleby Frodingham built up a steady, if slow opening stand but their cause was not helped when Pete Coverley fell to a run out as Dan Broadbent deliberately diverted a hard-struck drive on to the stumps.

York seemed to be in for the long haul as Miles Morland and John Parker fashioned an impressive third-wicket stand of 65 which took them to 111 when Nigel Durham smartly stumped Morland off Broadbent to claim the first of his three victims.

Then the bowler chipped in to catch Parker off fellow spinner Jeetan Patel. Unusually, the spinners had taken some time to make inroads but once on target they didn't let the Steelers rest.

Despite a defiant knock from New Zealander Nick Daley, Broadbent and Patel shared the last eight wickets for only 50 runs to dismiss Frodingham for 161.

York's prospects were dimmed as Simon Mason and Flack were dismissed within the first four overs with only six runs on the board.

But Steve Piercy and Marcus Wood settled to their task and their stand of 143 took York to the brink of victory. Each batsman hit 11 fours with Wood throwing in a six for good measure.

The last few runs were a formality for Mike Davies and Broadbent as York strolled home with 16 overs to spare.

Scarborough lost ground on York by failing to bowl out bottom club Rotherham.

Omar Jawid hit 61 and Tim Staveley an unbeaten 52 as the South Yorkshire side reached 206-7 from their overs.

Scarborough's powerful batting line-up cruised to an incomplete victory with Darren Harland undefeated on 81 with former York batsman Damon Gormley scoring 51 not out and Neil Elvidge 64.

Collegiate claimed six points from an incomplete win against Driffield.

Former county player Richard Kettleborough smacked 116 as the Abbeydale Parkers reached 299-4. But Driffield were not in much danger of being bowled out and closed at 225-5 with Mohammed Zaman hitting 70.

Castleford are emerging as potential challengers after their five-wicket win over the Yorkshire Academy yesterday.

They moved in to third place, 11 points behind York, but with a game in hand.

Despite 111 by opener Shane Deitz, Cleethorpes lost by nine runs to Harrogate, whose Mike Stanford hit 51 in a total of 210.

Star batsman Deitz kept Cleethorpes in the hunt by Dave Pennett's 4-63 just gave 'Gate the edge.

York's hopes of a league and cup double have been put on hold after their League Cup semi-final against Sheffield Collegiate at Abbeydale Park was called off yesterday because of rain.

Scarborough reached the final with a comfortable victory over Cleethorpes at North Marine Road.

Gormley continued his good form of the previous day with a top score of 69 in a total of 222.

Former skipper Nick Tubbs had a day to remember, the Scarborough solicitor following his unbeaten 37 with 5-44 as Cleethorpes folded at 158 all out.

The York and Clifton Alliance Cricket Club grounds will host the Northern Finals of the ECB National Under-15 Club Championship tomorrow (10.30am start).

The competing clubs are Liverpool, Ellerslie (Nottinghamshire), Stocksfield (Northumberland) and Yorkshire side Wath.

Yorkshire and England fast bowler Ryan Sidebottom is expected to present the awards.

The winners will go through to the national finals at Bournemouth on August 27.

The competition is sponsored by the Portman Building Society.

Updated: 10:30 Monday, August 11, 2003