Bishopthorpe overcame stiff opposition from Stamford Bridge in the preliminary round of the Horwath Pulleyn Heseleton Cup in a game which went to the wire.

Bridge, batting first, were never comfortable against Derrick Slack and Colin Markham and their 129-9 was built around Brian Aconley and Alan Day's contributions.

Sandy Kelly, with a patient 34, held Bishops' reply together and at 86-4 the game was evenly balanced.

Danny Williams was joined by Andy Fairburn and they inched their way forward, with the winning runs coming with just two balls to spare.

There were no such problems for Stockton & Hopgrove, whose rich vein of runs continued, this time against Heworth.

Pete Fairclough topped the scoring with 57 and received valuable support from Tony and David Kerrison. Adam Jackson chipped in with a rapid 34 to lift the total to 212-7.

Jackson nipped the Heworth reply in the bud with three quick wickets to effectively win the game for the Villagers. M Lancelot and later John Dale and M Boothroyd took the score along to 122-5.

Keith Pepper, with a hard working 73, came to Fulfordgate's rescue at British Sugar. He gained support from Tim Wheeler as they reached 149-7 at tea.

Five wickets for Wheeler including the top four put 'Gate in the driving seat. While Paul Mahoney stayed there Sugar retained hope but when dismissed for 35 the innings closed leaving the visitors winners by 29 runs.

Wheldrake's season of woe continued as they were forced to field an inexperienced team against North Duffield's seasoned XI and went down very quickly.

The luck of the draw was not kind to the minnows in the first round of the Scothern Construction Cup although it did give the opportunity for some of the strugglers to put in a better performance.

This was the case for Askham Bryan who ran up 233-5 at home to Tadcaster Magnets.

Willie Knight, Matthew Foreman and Mark Grewer gave Askham a fine start but Peter Wood brought the innings alive in his first game for the club with a sparkling 85 not out.

He followed this with 3-8 as the Tadcaster reply slipped away, Tony Nicholson having taken out most of the top order leaving the Villagers to go through to the next round.

Heworth's young team were no real match for the experienced Drax, although there were some promising performances from the younger players.

Sixteen-year-old Dan Nicholson top scored for Heworth with 26 but the innings fell apart to A Ounsley and P Smith with the last seven wickets falling for 11 runs.

Drax lost opener T Hammond for a duck but that was the last success Heworth had as the Gouldens, Steve and Ian, knocked off the 79 required at ease.

Selby gave a better batting performance to reach 150-6 but it was not enough to stop neighbours Burn from winning by seven wickets.

Veteran skipper Geoff Romans, unlucky not to reach a half century when stranded on 48, received valuable support from Tod Wain and R Besley. Tony Godfrey claimed 5-28.

Burn lost both openers with 11 on the board but thereafter Burn were in charge as Alan Prescott, Roy Webster and Nick Horsley raced home.

Derek Bell held the depleted Ben Johnson innings together carrying his bat for 53 at Kelfield. But their total of 96 was passed for the loss of four wickets despite the efforts of man of the match Bell, who sent down ten overs to return 1-12.

Woodhouse Grange were restricted to 99-8 against the strong Hirst attack, M Langton top scoring with 35 and Mark Alford taking 3-20.

Tony Hinch, with an excellent 45 in Hirst's reply, wrapped up the game with overs to spare.

Tollerton Outlaws took on the Woodhouse Grange first XI with similar results. Batting first the Grange struggled to 69-8, a total the Outlaws passed for the loss of just two wickets.

Acomb used eight bowlers to good effect at Thorpe Willoughy where six of them took wickets as the hosts managed a meagre 99-8. Acomb didn't hang around with Kevin Crawford hitting a quick half century to add to Phil Chaffers' 34 as they coasted home.

Updated: 11:52 Friday, May 10, 2002