Heworth won the Bank Holiday Monday table-topping encounter with Woodhouse Grange with consummate ease to open up a clear lead at the top of the premier division of the Hunters Estate Agent York and District Senior League.

They were the only two sides in the top flight to win both opening games but it was a one sided affair as Grange were skittled out for only 52 by Shahid Khan who took 5-27 and Martin Sigsworth who supported with 3-20. Heworth moved to a nine-wicket win inside 24 overs.

Acomb's Chris Simpson became the second player to plunder a century off the Sheriff Hutton Bridge attack over the weekend when he made 104no when the teams met at Moor Farm. He shared a 133-stand with Richard Sykes who was dismissed for 52 off the final ball as Acomb posted a total of 211-4. Bridge's batsmen were shackled by tight bowling from David Sykes who completed a 21-over spell with figures of 3-45 and Shanuka Dissanayake. Paul Oldfield made 40 but Bridge had to settle for second best as they drew at 105-6.

Thirsk's fortunes took a turn for the better when they had the better of a draw against Osbaldwick. Thirsk benefited from a century opening stand between Darren Wyrill and Neil Stephenson who had reached 109 before the latter fell for 57. Dave Greenlay chipped in with 25 while skipper Wyrill moved to 97 before he was trapped leg before. Damian Aston and Matt Dunne each took two wickets but could not prevent Thirsk reaching 233-4. In reply, Steve Jackson made 34 and Ian Wilson 37 while Dave Greenlay claimed 3-46 as Osbaldwick made 175-7 to earn an draw.

Pickering's woeful start continued when they slipped to their third defeat at Clifton Alliance but at least their batsmen began to show a semblance of form. Chris Nicholls hit 56 and Chris Hugill 36 while John Hunter got among the wickets to claim 5-45 as Pickering were all out for 157.

Clifton lost an early wicket before Chris Dion, with 46 and Simon Dwyer, who made 51, shared a second wicket stand of exactly 100 to set up a six-wicket win.

Runs flowed at Beverley where the home side mounted a good response to an Easingwold total of 232-4 to earn a rewarding draw at 192-8. Easingwold's Aussie Greg Everest continued his fine form by hitting 83, sharing in a 114-run stand for the second wicket with Jonathan Marwood who made 43. Martin Robinson then hit 56 to help Easingwold take maximum points. Ian Sugden claimed three of the four wickets to fall at a cost of 64 runs.

Beverley made a good effort to match their opponents with Andy Burton hitting 42, Ali Brumfield 35 and Peter Parnaby 43 but Paul Skilbeck produced an important spell of 3-6 to restrict the home side to 192-8.

Dunnington also had a frustrating afternoon when Pocklington held out for a draw by surviving 53 overs. Dunnington skipper Collis King hit his 24th century in the York League, making 101. He shared a second wicket stand of 114 with Hamid Khan (68) after Simon Kellett had laid a foundation with 34. The in-form Paul Miles then chipped in with 27 before Dunnington declared at 255-6 after 47 overs.

Pock's Kev Hinch claimed three wickets in 19 overs but conceded 116 runs. King then took 3-26, but Nathan Schultz steered his side to a draw at 147-8 by making an unbeaten 38.

Updated: 12:20 Tuesday, May 07, 2002