YORK put on one of their worst performances of the season in the Yorkshire ECB County Premier League when they suffered an 88-run mauling at the hands of bottom club Rotherham at Clifton Lane on Saturday.

York captain Nigel Durham won the toss and decided to put the home side in to bat but four dropped catches, indifferent fielding and lack of commitment was exploited by Rotherham to the full as they rattled up 240 before they were all out in 55 overs.

Seventeen-year-old Danny Kemp profited from York's slackness when he ran up 60 before he was trapped lbw by Stephen Piercy (2 for 32), Rotherham's other wickets fell to Rob Flack (3 for 79), who took out both Rotherham openers and Nash Stone, who ended with figures of 4 for 43 from nine overs.

The highlight of a below par fielding display was a brilliant running catch by Nick Kay that dismissed Ben Scrivens off Stone for 33.

Lesroy Weekes savoured some below par York bowling to score a half-century before menacing the York batsmen with his pace bowling in which his 7.1 overs gave him figures of 3 for 14, otherwise the York wickets were shared between the other Rotherham bowlers.

Marcus Wood was given out off the first delivery from Weekes for a duck - a hotly disputed decision - Stone was also out without scoring.

The only bright spot in York's total of 152 was Simon Mason's excellent 65.

Barnsley were bowled out for 103 in 34 overs at St George's Road as Harrogate strengthened their grip at the top of the table with a nine-wicket victory that was achieved in just 18 overs.

Dave Pennett, Peter Hepworth and Dave Crowther combined to take three wickets apiece leaving it to John Inglis (42no), John Proud (32) and Hepworth (21no) an easy task to reach their target.

Scarborough put up a brave fight to challenge Sheffield Collegiate for second place to Harrogate but despite a brilliant century from 'Boro skipper Mark Cowell had to settle for second best just 12 runs short of victory with three wickets standing.

Collegiate had batted first for 251 for 4, Charlie Wall (61) and Ed McKenna (78no) putting on 115 for the second wicket after Nick Gaywood had scored 80.

Cowell's century off 110 deliveries included two sixes and 14 fours and with his partner, Darren Harland (57), put on 147 for the second wicket.

Doncaster Town's cricketers travelled all the way to Scarborough for their Yorkshire ECB County Premier League Knock Out Cup tie yesterday only to find that the North Marine Road ground was too wet to permit the game to go ahead.

Updated: 12:21 Monday, July 09, 2001