TWO promotion-chasing sides in division five were in opposition at Tadcaster Magnet, where a seven-wicket win for the home side over Stamford Bridge completed an attractive day for Magnet.

Home bowlers Kev Wakefield (3-50) and Mark Cass (3-29) kept the Stamford batsmen shackled with only Ed Sykes, with 33no, making a mark in a modest total of 117-9.

Wakefield then followed with a top score of 32 with support coming from Rich Cattle (26) and Ian Dawson 28 as Tadcaster won by seven wickets.

Divisional leaders Selby had little difficulty in beating a Hovingham side who were dismissed for 98 by Chris Dye 4-14 and Steve Spence 3-15. Richard Wood top scoring with 32.

Mark Hemmingway hit back with 4-35 but no other bowlers made any impression.

Second placed Pocklington had a similar comfortable outing in a game with almost identical scores to the Selby game. This time Huntington were restricted to 117-9 as Simon Hill took 3-27 and Rich Shaw made 40.

Pocklington lost three wickets in their successful chase. Mark Croft saw Adam Thomas depart for 32 before he was joined by Tim Creaser, who made 26no with Croft reaching an unbeaten 47.

At Carlton Towers, Darren Graves batted through the innings for an unbeaten 72 against Rowntrees, sharing in a 89-run second wicket stand with Martin Denby (49) and an unbroken fifth wicket stand of 64 with 12-year-old Gareth Townsend, who made 27no as Carlton reached 180-4.

Rowntrees best batting performance of the season hinged on a 109-run fourth wicket stand between Duncan Robertson, who made 54, and Andy Main (63). They put their side well on course for their first win of the season but the scoring rate slumped after their dismissal and Rowntrees had to settle for a draw despite a breezy unbeaten 20 from Steve Aldous as they closed on 173-6.

Dringhouses gained their first win of the season when they successfully chased a score of 191-3 set by Sessay.

Tony Fox led the way for Sessay when he made 74 while other valuable runs came from Keith Till, with 29, and skipper Richard Ormston, who made an unbeaten 36. Teenager Anthony Page replied with a half century and Richard Klarik made 38 before Geoff Smith saw his side to a four-wicket win with an undefeated 63.

Thirsk eased away from the relegation zone when Simon Barton made 48 and Sean Holmes 25no in a seven-wicket win at New Earswick.

Earlier, Martin Harper (5-55) and Neil Laidlaw (4-17) had sent Earswick back for 103. Darren Winters made 45 and Martin Hewitson a career-best 23 for Earswick.

Updated: 09:45 Monday, June 23, 2003