IT may have been Bank Holiday Saturday, but there was little revelry at Clifton Park. An infuriating and lengthy rain interruption reduced York's Oxbridge Yorkshire ECB County Premier League encounter with Rotherham Town to a time restricted finish and a 3-3 share of the points, when an outright victory was more than probable.

But to start with, a York success had looked unlikely. The cream of their top order batting was hustled to the pavilion with barely 50 on the board by pacy Ben Scrivens, who wheeled 22 tidy overs for a 6-52 return.

Then York's confidence was restored partially by a robust 44 from Aussie Nash Stone and fully revived by impressive half centuries from belligerent Dave Catlow and experienced Robert Flack.

Rain had intervened and prompted York skipper Nigel Durham to declare early in an effort to force a positive result.

The plan so nearly succeeded. Despite the loss of early wickets, Rotherham captain and Yorkshire Colt Simon Guy (81no) batted right through with vigorous intent and dropped a safety anchor.

Though Greg How slipped out three of Rotherham's top six with his skiddy seamers, a York victory seemed increasingly unlikely as the reduced overs slipped away. Then emerging off spinner Stephen Piercy was brought into the attack with devastating effect.

His three-man successive delivery haul - his first-ever hat-trick - included Scrivens, caught by Richard Gilbert, Gareth Davies lbw and Ed Moss-Ward stumped by Durham. Then How employed Gilbert's safe hands to send back Dave Smith and, suddenly, York had a sniff of an outright win.

It was not to be. Guy's rescue rope held firm and vastly experienced Mark Smallman hel-ped him bat out time.

The league title race was reduced from three candidates to two as Scarborough's overseas man Clint Heron (89no) shared a big opening stand with skipper Darren Harland (64) to demolish a victory target of 175 set by Doncaster at Town Fields.

Doncaster's defeat puts them well behind front runners Harrogate and Sheffield Collegiate.

The seasiders were again in devastating form at North Marine Road yesterday when Heron (91no) led the way to a dramatic last-ball victory over the Yorkshire Academy. In yesterday's other league fixture, Cleethorpes (190 all out) just failed to take full points from neighbours Appleby Frodingham (149-9).

Title holders Sheffield Collegiate remain top of the table after making short work of Castleford. Rapid Richard Pineo grabbed 5-22 from just 11 overs to send the visitors packing for just 93. But the Abbeydale pitch offered both sides a chance and Collegiate lost half their side in overhauling the target

Harrogate spinner Chris Kippax bamboozled Hull's batsmen at St George's Road to secure a maximum eight-point success and maintain the North Yorkshire side's genuine championship interest.

Needing just 116 to win, belligerent John Inglis blasted an undefeated 74 as the target was reached inside 20 overs.

But yesterday was not so good for Mike Stanford's men. They entertained Sheffield United in the second semi-final of the Yorkshire League Cup and went down by 23 runs. United reached a substantial 215-7 and Harrogate could only respond with an all out total of 192. United will meet holders Yorkshire Academy in the final, but recent fixture re-arrangement problems could see the game delayed until at least mid-September.

Today is vital to Harrogate's title hopes. They need to secure an outright win at Rotherham and hope that Sheffield United can put one over on Collegiate at Bawtry Road. Both clubs have five matches to play and Collegiate (played 21 - points 117) are two points ahead of Harrogate (21-115).

On paper, Harrogate, with both York and the Yorkshire Academy to play, appear to have a harder run-in. York, for their part, will be hoping to come back victorious from today's trip to Hull.

Updated: 12:02 Monday, August 26, 2002