Westow had their lead cut at the top of the Horwath Pulleyn Heselton York Vale League second division, losing their 100 per cent record and providing Fulfordgate with their first league win of the season.

A captain's knock from Keith Pepper gave 'Gate the ideal platform as they tallied 200-6. It could have been higher had Colin Smallwood not taken out the middle order. Steve Bygott, Paul Brown and S Wood put the pressure on the Westow batsmen and their weakened line up folded, Neil Earle topping the scoring with 27 out of 94.

A third-wicket partnership of 102 between Steve Bellerby (69no) and Paul Mahoney, with a maiden half century, enabled British Sugar to reach 159-3 at Clifton Alliance. Skipper Wayne Bellerby kept Sugar in charge with 5-40 as a young Clifton side struggled to keep up with the run rate.

Heworth dismissed visitors Copmanthorpe for 120 with a disciplined bowling performance, Peter Northfield and Darren Hughes adding 45 for the ninth wicket. Heworth wasted little time with Jon Bonarius and M Lancelot rattling up 91 for the first wicket to win by eight wickets.

Wheldrake remain firmly rooted at the bottom after being humiliated by neighbouring North Duffield. Trevor Britain and Neil Fensome ran through the order and clean bowled eight of the home batsmen to leave skipper Dave Kimberley stranded at the other end on 24. David Beilby and John Griffin knocked off the 51 required without loss.

Hirst United retained their 100 per cent record in style when defeating Ben Johnson by 110 runs to take a slender lead at the top of the third division.

Just behind are Escrick Park, who also maintained a maximum record following their demolition of York University Staff XI. The Staff side lost nine wickets for 18 runs to Richard Sherwood and Neil Reader, who both claimed five wickets. James Reynolds hit a powerful 76no as Park cruised home.

Askham Bryan were going well at Kelfield with Chris Parker and Peter Wood taking the score to 91-3 when Pete Buck came on to bowl and in six overs he took 5-19 as the College-based side were dismissed for 130. Buck and Andy Atkinson laid the foundation for Kelfield's four-wicket win with a third-wicket partnership of 46.

Stillingfleet never recovered from losing their first four wickets for 20 at Tollerton Outlaws. Chris Walker, Ian Kirkpatrick and Mark Livesey provided the bulk of their 89 but this was not enough to trouble the Outlaws as Andrew Charlton and Steve Raper won the game for the loss of a single wicket.

Burton Salmon ran up 258 for 4 against Heworth, their highest score on their new ground in the division four duel.

Max Driscoll and David Thornton put on 90 for the first wicket. David Olde kept the runs flowing along with Colin Driscoll and Kevin Waite as Heworth's young bowlers wilted.

Brian Wright's knock and a precise innings from 16-year-old T Outram were the bright spots in the Heworth reply of 91. Waite took 4-33.

Second-placed Wistow lost a close game to Selby, who recorded their first win.

Batting first, Selby reached 173. Kevin Lamb hit a fluent half century and was well supported by Gareth Pearce and Chris Johnson.

Pete Elliot and J Middleton started well for Wistow but the middle order collapsed against C Jeffries and S Bugg as Selby won by seven runs.

Huntington's spirit took them to a third consecutive win, successfully defending their low score of 99-8 against Drax. Richard Hawker and Colin Benson gave Hunts a good start with an opening partnership of 46 but the picture changed as R Ounsley and Paul Smith got among the wickets. Mick Storey and Neil Harrington harried the batsmen, each taking five wickets as Drax stumbled to 79 all out.

In division five Selby seconds picked up their first positive points from a low-scoring but thrilling game against leaders York, the game ending in a tie at 107 each.

Simon Duckett, opening the bowling for Stockton & Hopgrove for the first time, was well rewarded with 5-19 as Copmanthorpe collapsed to 86 all out. Cop struck back as John Lampard sent the three top Stockton batsmen on their way with only seven on the board but nothing could move Mick Anderson who produced a match-winning knock of 44no.

Barry Johnson and Ian Henderson pulled Woodhouse Grange round from 52-4 at Thorpe Willoughby, leading the visitors to 150. Danny Crockford and Alistair North among the wickets. Thorpe lost their first six wickets for 35 when 15-year-old Crockford (36) joined skipper Neil Copsey (44) at the wicket. They added 70 runs to open up the game but the winning target was just out of reach, Grange winning by ten runs.

Stockton & Hopgrove lead division one by six points after a comfortable win over York Post Office.

Steve Fraser carried his bat for the Villagers for 60 and put on 86 for the first wicket with David Kerrison. An excellent spell from Glynn Botterill kept the score to 169-7.

The home attack of Adam Jackson, Derrick Fryer and Chris Wright were always on top of the Post Office batsmen.

David Whittle and Graham Davies both missed out on half centuries but still enabled Ovington to reach 181 for 9 at Burn. Whittle followed by taking out the top three Burn batsmen as Ovington won by 33 runs.

Against Drax, Mick Clark shored up the Norwich Union innings of 146 with a half century as Brian Knight returned 4-27. In reply, Drax could only muster 127 with the last six batsmen contributing just seven runs between them. Gwaine Hogg took 5-45.

Hemingbrough are still looking for the illusive first win after going down to Bishopthorpe by 78 but can be pleased by the performance of some of their juniors.

Will Reynolds (42) and Chris Markham (85) put on 113 for the second wicket for the Bishops, who went on to reach 221-7. Opening for Hemingbrough, R Jobling and Craig Johnson, both aged 15, put on 41 before each was caught and bowled. G Williamson added 30 as the innings closed at 145-5.

Updated: 11:57 Thursday, June 06, 2002