York could easily benefit from taking time out from Yorkshire ECB County Premier League action at the weekend as Castleford face a stern ticking off for playing their second team in the Hunters York and District Senior League at Bubwith rather than fulfil their Yorkshire League fixture at home to Hull.

York invoked Rule 29 in order that their Yorkshire League game at the Yorkshire Academy could be re-arranged for September 9, as York had three of their automatic choice players involved in the White Rose Under-21 Trophy Competition against the Bradford League at Esholt yesterday.

But Cas, apparently, had no acceptable excuse for giving Hull back-word last Thursday on the grounds that they 'could not raise a team', opting to turn out a more junior side at Bubwith instead.

York, of course, escaped the minimum three points awarded whenever a game is abandoned due to rain, and they will benefit further if the weather is kind to them and allows them to pick up more points by having the game deferred until September.

Spare a thought though for Yorkshire Colt keeper, Simon Guy, who rattled off 177 in vain against Appleby-Frodingham as Rotherham posted a massive 304 all out before rain drenched the ground with Appleby's score on 26 for 3 in 9.5 overs.

Guy, who is following in the footsteps of his wicket-keeper father, Darryl, who played for many years at Clifton Lane, hit 26 fours and a five in his mammoth innings.

Lucky Harrogate dodged the rain in order to complete the league's only full game at St George's Road against Cleethorpes, who were without their run machine, Matthew Sinclair, who is currently involved with New Zealand in the Sri Lankan Triangular tournament.

In-form opening bat John Inglis stepped up to score 138 not out. He batted right through to help 'Gate reach 233 for 2 in an innings reduced to 40 overs per side because of interruptions by rain, aided and abetted by 61 not out from Harrogate's latest wicket-keeper/bat, Ryan Bradshaw.

Dave Pennett and Oliver Hutton then took two wickets apiece as Cleethorpes failed to measure up with a reply of 145 for 5 in their 40 overs.

Scarborough were 35-2 in 14 overs, replying to Doncaster Town's 218, before their game was abandoned.

HARROGATE v CLEETHORPES

Harrogate: J Inglis not out 138, J Proud lbw Carrington 23, P Hepworth c Abe b Carrington 6, R Bradshaw not out 61, Extras 5, Total (2wkts) 233.

Bowling: J Davies 9-2-39-0, A Carrington 15-2-75-2, S Airey 7-0-38-0, N White 5-0-35-0, G Thompson 4-0-42-0.

Cleethorpes: M Smith lbw Pennett 47, G Wilson c Crowther b Pennett 5, J Stevenson c Jenson b Louden 68, W Abe c Cousen b Hutton 3, J Osmond c&b Hutton 13, D Tolson not out 3, S Airey not out 1, Extras 5, Total (5wkts) 145.

Bowling: D Pennett 12-4-20-2, S Jenson 10-1-34-0, D Crowther 3-1-19-0, P Hepworth 3-0-18-0, N Louden 7-1-24-1, O Hutton 5-1-28-2.

Harrogate (6pts) beat Appleby-Frodingham (0pts) by 88 runs.

Umpires: GJ Mellor & A Pawson.

DONCASTER v SCARBOROUGH

Doncaster: W Graca c Whitmarsh b Craven 11, A Chadwick lbw Gray 23, S Widdup st Whitmarsh b Barlow 47, P Worthington c Gray b Barlow 77, A Parkin-Coates st Whitmarsh b Barlow 11, P Ellis b Gray 2, G Dawson b Barlow 12, N Harris b Gray 8, R Johnson b Barlow 10, D Jones c Gray b Barlow 2, P Stokoe not out 0, Extras 14, Total 218.

Bowling: V Craven 10-0-37-1, N Fletcher 6-1-29-0, A Gray 19-4-40-3, R Barlow 14.5-0-79-6, C Clifford 5-0-25-0.

Scarborough: N Tubbs not out 6, D Harland c Chadwick b Harris 2, M Cowell c Chadwick b Harris 0, V Craven not out 19, Extras 8, Total (2wkts) 35.

Bowling: P Worthington 6-0-16-0, N Harris 6-2-12-2, P Stokoe 1-0-1-0, S Widdup 1-1-0-0.

Match abandoned - rain - 3pts each.

Umpires: B Whitehead & TM Cottam.

DRIFFIELD v BARNSLEY

Barnsley: C Wood run out 19, B Kulbushan c&b Winterbottom 32, R Holmes c Howe b Winterbottom 13, P Benson not out 8, J Ellis not out 7, Extras 21, Total (3wkts) 100.

Bowling: A Kirk 7-1-27-0, G Hodgson 7-1-19-0 S Winterbottom 7-2-28-2, A Southwick 6-0-13-0.

Driffield: Did not bat.

Match abandoned - rain - 3pts each.

Umpires: S Roberts & T Boldry.

ROTHERHAM v APPLEBY-FRODINGHAM

Rotherham: B Scrivens c King b Powell 24, A Swallow lbw Hilton 6, D Kemp c Morland b Hilton 0, S Guy b Dransfield 177, O Burford run out 9, J Allan run out 23, P McGann lbw King 0, S Bailey c Morland b Dransfield 31, T Davies not out 6, D Hurworth b Dransfield 0, M Smallman b Dransfield 2, Extras 26, Total 304.

Bowling: P Hilton 13-2-70-2, R Dranfield 10.5-0-78-04, D Hildrith 7-0-50-0, M Powell 12-1-35-1, R King 10-1-37-1, J Taylor 2-0-15-0.

Appleby-Frodingham: R King c Guy b Scrivens 1, P Taylor c Bailey b Smallman 2, J Uddin not out 5, M Bramley c&b Scrivens 4, J Parker not out 4, Extras 9, Total (3wkts) 26.

Bowling: M Smallman 5-1-7-1, B Scrivens 4.5-0-14-2.

Match abandoned - rain - 3pts each.

Umpires: J Abram & I Oakes.

SHEFFIELD COLLEGIATE v SHEFFIELD UNITED

Sheffield United: M Barlow b Tasker 36, A Twigg c Moyser b Hespe 30, N Longhurst st Kettleborough b Hespe 33, C Watson b Tasker 6, M King b Hespe 8, D Yarnley st Kettleborough b Hespe 10, P Swanepoel c Kettleborough b Wylie 13, A Hirst lbw Tasker 1, M Downing b Tasker 24, T Fletcher out out 1, P Heathwood b Wylie 0, Extras 29, Total 191.

Bowling: A Wylie 10.5-4-29-2, S Clark 5-1-16-0, C Wall 6-2-8-0, J Hespe 17-3-56-4, J Tasker 16-2-60-4.

Sheffield Collegiate: N Gaywood not out 2, N Priestley not out 0, Extras 1, Total (0wkts) 3.

Bowling: P Swanepoel 1-0-2-0.

Match abandoned - rain - 3pts each.

Umpires: G Wood & A Featherstone.

YORKSHIRE ACADEMY v YORK

Re-arranged under Rule 29 for September 9.

CASTLEFORD v HULL

Match not played.