Norwich Union's hopes of taking the first division title in the Horwath Pulleyn Heselton York Vale League were hit by improving York Post Office, writes John Parkin.

NU made little progress against the accurate Mike Hamshere and second change bowler James Ledgeway and their 115 all out owed much to Simon Morgan and Ran Banerjee.

YPO lost Dean Palmer at 27 but Andy Sturdy's unbeaten half-century, aided by father and son Ray and Neil Baggaley, saw the Postmen home by eight wickets.

Ovington closed the gap in second as Stamford Bridge conceded, while York also crept closer despite their game against Bishopthorpe being abandoned with Bishops on 58-8.

Hemingbrough, with four youth players, did not trouble Drax, losing by seven wickets. Brough skipper Richard Seels, going in last man, top scored with 25 before becoming James Brook's fifth victim. Scott Simm and Ryan Hamilton saw Drax on their way.

Division two leaders British Sugar struggled to beat Fulfordgate despite dismissing them for 69.

Ray Dodd (5-22) turned the clock back with accurate medium pace and at one stage had Sugar at 11-5. Steve Bellerby buckled down and his 39no was a match winner.

Second and third-placed Westow and North Duffield played out a thrilling tie, North Duffield's third of the season.

Westow lost opener Rob Kellock in Trevor Britain's first over, the first of his seven wickets. Ron Welford and Richard Hudson added 41 for the second wicket but it was the Earle brothers, Neil and Mark, who lifted the score to 154.

ND shrugged off the loss of Lee Wild to progress to 111 with Dave Bielby and Trevor Britain reaching the 40s until parted by Dave Midgley. This precipitated a collapse where ND lost six wickets for 16 runs to Midgley and Dave Coverdale.

ND then needed 20 from the last two overs with two wickets left. Andy Morrin hit 14 from the penultimate over but they couldn't reach their target as last man Simon Everatt was run out on the last ball.

There is a dogfight between Thorpe Willoughby, Wheldrake and Thixendale to avoid the second relegation spot above Clifton Alliance, and on Saturday all three teams won.

Wheldrake slipped to 39-3 at Heworth but Nigel Exton and Paul Rhodes' partnership of 96 saw the visitors to 163-6.

Heworth needed M Groom to hold the innings together against Exton and Harry Codling but when he was bowled by Codling (7-62) the innings fell away with only Archie Woodhead offering resistance and unlucky to miss out on a maiden half-century.

Granville North and Mark Longhorne rescued Thorpe Willoughby when they came together at 38-5, adding 41, and the tail helped them reach 112-9, enough to beat Copmanthorpe.

Dave Purdy and son Neil put on 53 for Cop's first wicket but John and Martin Cooke came into the attack and saw Cop collapse, losing eight wickets for 19 runs.

Thirteen-year-old Steve Tremaine top scored for Clifton Alliance but could not save his side from an eight-wicket defeat at Thixendale.

Promoted Hirst United are on the brink of the division three title after their overwhelming defeat of Escrick Park. The match would have been closer, however, if Escrick had held their catches.

Kelfield were given a run for their money by York University Staff, who continue to turn in good displays without dividends.

Steve Schofield (69) was the backbone of Kelfield's innings against a lively Richard Waites and good support from Martin Rhodes and Neil Atkinson helped them to 157-6.

Staff were well placed at 122-3 with ten overs left when Rhodes (8-55) removed B Donnelly and Waites, and the tail folded.

Melbourne face life in division four after their defeat by Ben Johnson.

Updated: 12:46 Thursday, August 29, 2002