York are posing a serious threat to Burythorpe at the top of the first division of the Horwath Pulleyn Heselton York Vale League.

Both teams won at the weekend but with York taking maximum points they were able to draw level with Burythorpe.

John Sharples and Jon Goodway gave Ovington a good start on the Knavesmire against the Milner cousins from Burythorpe. They put on 59 for the first wicket before Sharples was run out for 35. Goodway went on to make 71 out of the team score of 171-5. Andrew Milner was the steadier of the two bowlers but it was Paul who got the wickets.

Burythorpe were always up with the run rate although two wickets to Sharples pegged them back to 70-3. Andy Milner, riding his luck a little, went on make a match-winning 65 with cousin Paul striking the winning runs.

York turned in a solid performance against previously unbeaten Burn.

A half-century from Sean Hunter and supporting knocks from S Jones, Peter Dobson and M Bellerby saw them to an impressive 210-6 at tea.

Bellerby, 4 for 24, and Simon Hall, 3 for 15, had Burn in all sorts of bother with only Rob Webster and Graham Stansfield in double figures as they faltered to 80 all out.

The day's bowling honours went to Bishopthorpe stalwart Derek Gardiner. In 18 very accurate overs he took 9 for 40 as Heworth were well beaten at Ferry Lane.

Stockton and Hopgrove made a horrendous start against Hemingbrough as Mark Allitt and N Jackson had them reeling at 19-4, but when the Kerrison brothers, David and Richard, came together the game gradually swung in favour of the villagers.

David reached 61 and Richard 32 in a fifth-wicket partnership of 76. Mick Carroll chipped in with a quick-fire 26 to see the home side comfortably placed at 161-8.

James Wigby and Derek Fryer kept it very tight with 12 maidens in the first 22 overs to leave 'Brough well behind schedule. Ady Adamson livened things up and, with John Waterhouse, took them into three figures. But in the desperate attempt to salvage something from the game the wickets tumbled, the last five going down for 17 runs.

There was no joy for Stamford Bridge who were humbled by Norwich Union. Simon Cook took 7 for 30, five of those going to wicket-keeper Will Spence. Brian Garnett stroked an unbeaten half-century as NU strolled home.

Division two's top teams Thorpe Willoughby and British Sugar met at Field Lane, where the home team won to go top.

Mark Bellerby's classy unbeaten 62 propped up the Sugar batting against Dave Watson, who sent down 18 overs for just 30 runs, while Granville North took 4 for 65. Thorpe were never in any real danger although Wayne Bellerby did take 3 for 43. North was to the fore with 41 not out.

Kevin Thomas took a heavy toll on the Wheldrake bowling with exactly 100 in just 104 balls as Drax raced to 200 for 5. The Wheldrake reply was somewhat subdued slipping to 90 all out, elevating Drax into second place.

Although York Post Office's revised batting line up didn't sparkle they still managed to total 139-6 against Clifton Alliance.

Against his former club James Ledgeway hit 38 not out along with Ray Baggaley (29). The same duo had the upper hand in attack, Ledgeway taking 4 for 17 and Baggaley 4 for 9 as Clifton collapsed to 50 all out.

Thixendale's first win of the season was done in style. Having put Fulfordgate in to bat they hustled them out for just 59, Adrian Brader taking 6 for 9 from six overs and Graham Lyndsey 3 for 22. Thixendale lost three wickets in reaching their target.

But Kelfield came away empty-handed from their trip to travelled to a bitterly cold and exposed Westow ground.

North Duffield top division three after their six-wicket defeat of Escrick Park.

Tony Moore (5 for 30) had Park in deep trouble at 7 for 4. Brian Castle and Neil Reader then posted a valuable eighth-wicket partnership which more than doubled the score to 101.

Duffield were slow off the mark with Richard Sherwood taking 3 for 49, but David Beilby held firm carrying his bat for 32, although it was 31 from Mark Stockdale that steered Duffield home with four overs spare.

Due to the effects of the foot and mouth crisis Askham Bryan still have having to play their home games 'away' and they must have known their 'home' game against Copmanthorpe at Elvington was not going to be their day when the groundsman turned out to be the 65-year-old former player Geoff Deighton, who was playing for Copmanthorpe.

Batting first the Cop middle order came to their rescue to post a good 180-7. Askham were going well against some useful bowling from Darren and John Hughes with Mark Grewer striking the ball well until he skied one.

It was a monumental shot which came almost vertically down, swirling in the wind. Deighton was underneath it, taking the catch so nonchalantly over his shoulder with his back to the wicket. Askham then collapsed.

In the fourth division Jim Watt lit up the York University Staff innings with an unbeaten ton, his second in successive weeks taking a heavy toll on the Ovington attack as they raced to 235-5.

Stockton and Hopgrove maintained their unbeaten record to head division five from Thorpe Willoughby.

Taking first knock at Selby the Villagers mustered 141 with Nigel Collinson to the fore although Stephen Sherwood returned a healthy 6 for 27. The Selby innings never quite got up to the mark and wickets fell regularly.