Sewerby, leaders in division three of Hunters the estate agent York and District Senior League, overwhelmed Civil Service by nine wickets.

But their demolition of the Service batting line-up for only 59 meant that the were unable to add any batting points to their 25 point bag.

Sewerby off-spinner Naseer Khan took 8-13 and included a hat-trick.

Second-placed Rowntree had to work much harder for their victory over Hovingham but, by gaining the full five batting points, were able to reduce Sewerby's lead to eight points.

Hovingham reached 238-7, Nick Elliott scoring 66 and Stuart Prest 71. Richard Tuite took 3-58 and then followed with 51 when Rowntree responded.

Nick Sedgewick (37), Mick Jones (48), Paul Horner (37) and Sean Marshall (34 not out) took Rowntree to 239-6 for their tenth win of the season.

New Earswick retained their lingering promotion challenge with an eight-wicket win at Cawood, who were dismissed for 98 by Paul Stimpson (7-53) and Christian Soulsby (3-37). Mick Steels made 46 for Earswick.

Londesbrough Park helped their bid to avoid relegation by getting the better of a draw with Heslington.

Mick Taylor hit 63 in Park's 188-7 and then took 3-27, but Ryan Elliott made 47, Paul Neal 51 and Lee Bolton 34 saw Heslington reach 163-7.

At Woodhouse Grange, Stuart Craven made 40 and Russ Bilton 35 in a home total of 160-5, which proved to be out of reach for a declining Yapham side, whose reply of 87-9 saw them flirting with defeat.

The result of the Whitkirk v Heworth fixture fell foul of answerphone gremlins, with only half the information received. Whitkirk were dismissed for 109, but the Heworth score remains in the electronic maze.

Bolton Percy have leapt to the top of division four following their 191-run mauling of Dringhouses, complemented by the five-wicket defeat of former leaders Pickering at Osbaldwick.

Overseas player Chris Hill hit 14 fours and six sixes in a fine 129 as he shared in a second-wicket stand of 135 with Mark Worrall (66).

Skipper Howard Hall had made 33 when he halted Bolton Percy's innings at 275-5 after 39 overs. A ten-man Dringhouses side were then out for 84 as Worrall took 6-29.

Pickering surprisingly lost their unbeaten record at Osbaldwick, where the home side won by five wickets, with Matt Dunne making 47, Ed Baldwin 36 and Andy Hall 30.

Pickering's 153-6 was courtesy of Kevin Wilson (31) and Ian Johnson (54), with Marcus Hollis claiming 3-33.

At Dunnington, Gary Andrew hit 79 in a total of 172 against Sheriff Hutton Bridge.

Dave Houldridge recovered from an expensive first spell to gain 5-34. Dudley Cooper (4-32) helped reduced the Bridge to 131-6.

Easingwold edged towards the promotion zone at the expense of Huntington who are looking like relagtion candidates.

Colin Benson made 49 for the strugglers, but they were shot out for 122 by Adrian Leckenby (5-27) and Alan Robinson (4-37). Robinson then hit 55 as Easingwold won by four wickets.

Sheriff Hutton won by six wickets with three balls to spare at Selby. Steve Spence made 43, Ian Lake 50 and Rich Firth 51 in a home score of 184-8, Howard Faith taking 4-42 for Sheriff Hutton, whose reply was led by Andrew Johnson (53), Ernie Taylor (62) and Ben Tompkins (48).

Updated: 11:34 Monday, August 19, 2002