THE heavy rains of the previous few days played havoc with the programme in the Hunters York and District Senior Cricket League, with 20 games being abandoned without a ball bowled.

However, five out of the six premier division games beat the weather, the exception being Heworth versus Pickering where the pitch was waterlogged.

The clash at Moor Farm between old rivals Sheriff Hutton Bridge and Easingwold turned out to be the match of the day.

Both teams were seeking a much-needed victory, with the hosts requiring profitable results to avoid relegation and Easingwold needing a victory to keep up their challenge for the runners-up spot.

Therefore, the resulting draw, albeit a close one which went down to the last over, did little to enhance either team's ambitions.

Paul Skilbeck drew first blood quickly when Bridge skipper Mike Smith was caught by Greg Saunders for a duck. His fellow opener, Paul Oldfield, was joined by Steve Crowder and the pair put together a sound partnership of 82 before the former was caught by Dan Copeland off Tom Langstaff for 38.

Paul Scaling quickly followed when he was caught off Alan Robinson but Crowder was involved in another half-century liaison as he and Duncan Snell added 59 for the fourth wicket, which was ended at 146 when another Saunders catch saw Copeland dismiss Snell for 16.

Crowder just missed out on a ton when, at 173, he was bowled by Copeland for 91 and the home innings then lost momentum as Skilbeck bagged three more wickets to finish with 4-44 in 14 overs and restrict the Bridge to 193-8.

When Easingwold batted, wicket-keeper Saunders was first to go when he fell to Mike Smith at 17-1.

Paul Skilbeck helped Martin Piercy hoist the total to 52 before Oldfield had him caught by Snell for 20 then James Pringle (17) helped the score to 99 before falling to teenage spinner Danny Snowball.

Former Bridge junior Martin Piercy moved to his sixth half-century of the season as he passed the 500-run mark but saw Paul Redshaw fall to Oldfield at 146-4.

Copeland kept Easingwold on track with 17 but the Bridge got a boost when Piercy (85) was run out at 185-6 in the penultimate over.

The final over, bowled by Oldfield, started with Easingwold requiring eight to win but a Nick Scaling catch removed Alan Robinson and Lang-staff was run out off the final ball as Easingwold fell short at 191-8.

Oldfield's reward for keeping his nerve was figures of 3-61 off 18 overs while Mike Smith had 2-45.

All-rounder Dave Greenlay was the match-winner when Thirsk pulled off a surprisingly easy victory over second-placed Acomb to not only boost his side's chances of survival but also virtually end Acomb's chances of catching Dunnington, who are now 73 points ahead.

Greenlay left Barry Petty (4-51) in an unaccustomed supporting role as he captured 6-37 to dismiss Acomb for 99. Greenlay, recording one of the best all-round performances of the season, then hit an unbeaten 61 and took Thirsk to victory at 100-3.

While Woodhouse Grange were unable to inflict a first defeat on leaders Dunnington, they at least had the satisfaction of dismissing the champions elect.

Ashley Quinn (4-41) produced the best Grange figures, while paceman Kashif Raza (3-62) underlined his value. Only Hamed Khan (55) figured prominently as Dunnington were all out for 165.

His innings was bettered by Nick Hadfield (62no) for Woodhouse but a 25-over spell by John McHale kept things in perspective and his 4-56 did much to restrict Woodhouse's reply to 113-7.

Osbaldwick dropped to fifth when they lost at Beverley, whose three-wicket victory moved them into more tranquil mid-table waters.

Richie Carew and Dave Cooper both made 32 and Dave Thompson hit 33 but Barry Sayer took 3-35 and Ian Sugden 3-6 in a seven-over spell to bowl out Osbaldwick for 146.

When Beverley batted, Shaun White presented problems with 3-31 in 16 overs but Gurinder Pal Singh hit a decisive 68 and Andy Burton added 25 as Beverley gained victory.

Clifton Alliance moved back into the top half with a 15-run victory in a good contest at Pocklington to leave the hosts with little hope of beating the drop.

Dave Taylor (51) cast aside his indifferent form, while Richard Musgrave (39) played one of his better innings.

Mike Newhouse produced a season's best 5-75 but James Postill (47no) rallied the Alliance as Clifton reached the interval at 173-9.

In Pock's reply, Kevin Hinch made 38 but Travis Borlace (5-58) and spinner Mike Pickering (4-64) had them all out for 158.

Updated: 11:01 Monday, August 12, 2002