In what must rank as their worst performance of the season so far, York plunged to a seven wicket defeat in the Yorkshire ECB County Premier League at Hull on Saturday.

They were saved from total embarrassment only by plucky tailenders who helped to raise the score to 137-9.

Left-handed opening bat Marcus Wood (26) battled in vain to hold York's front order batsmen together as they proceeded to lose five wickets for only nine runs, caving in to Hull's opening bowler, Steve Sargeant, who sent five York batsmen packing for only four runs in his first nine overs.

But as so often happens when York are in trouble, Greg How came to the rescue as a new York record for low scoring was looming, How's unbeaten half century assisted by 18 from James Pringle and 11 not out from Rob Lancaster giving some semblance of respectability.

Sargeant clean bowled four of York's batsmen ending with the brilliant figures of 7-32 off 15 overs.

Indian right-hander Amit Dani scored 76 not out helping Hull to reach their target with seven wickets and 12 overs to spare.

Yorkshire and England all-rounder Craig White must have thought he has been on a roller coaster when he followed last week's Yorkshire ECB County Premier League innings of 121 for Scarborough with 37 for the Seasiders against league leaders Sheffield United at North Marine Road - because Scarborough were bowled out for 85 in 34.2 overs after falling victim to South African Piete Swanepoel, who took eight Boro wickets for 51 runs in 17.2 blistering overs.

Jon Trower (35no) and Alexis Twigg (42) steered United for victory in 25.1 overs with nine wickets to spare.

Harrogate overtook Rotherham's 149 all out in 53 overs with seven wickets and 28 overs to spare, John Proud (57) and John Inglis (72) being Gate's main run makers after Dave Pennett (4-27) and Peter Hepworth (3-40) had restricted Town to a modest total.

Yorkshire Academy beat their hosts, Driffield (172-7), by nine wickets with 15 overs to spare, Joe Sayers (58no), Richard Pyrah (48) and Tabbasum Bhatti (43) reaching their target with plenty wickets and overs to spare.

Last year's champions, Doncaster, were held to a draw at Castleford who batted first for 214-8, Town replying with 206 for eight, of which Yorkshire Colt's skipper, Simon Widdup, scored 78.

York's good fortune deserted them again yesterday as they followed their shock seven wickets defeat by Hull the day before with a losing draw against the much fancied Sheffield Collegiate.

Collegiate batted first to set York a total of 244-6 to aim at, York replying with their last wicket intact but fifty one runs short of their target.

Former Yorkshire and Middlesex all-rounder, Richard Kettleborough scored 77 for the Clifton Park visitors, well stumped by York's skipper Nigel Durham off Nash Stone who took 3-69 in 21 overs including another stumping by Durham.

Kettleborough later took two catches but failed to take a wicket, his six over spell finishing at nought for 17, but he enjoyed a third wicket partnership of 93 with Ed McKenna (35).

Veteran spinner, John Hespe, however, spun out six York batsmen for 78 in 24 overs

York's openers, Marcus Wood (64) and his young partner, Steve Piercy (37) put on 91 for the first wicket, Stone and Ben Quick contributing 28 and 21 respectively to the York total Piercy also bowling 25 overs for a return of one Collegiate wicket for 81.

Scarborough suffered a double home defeat at the hands of the league leaders Sheffield United and then Harrogate who overtook Boro's total of 136 yesterday in 61 overs with four wickets in hand, Harrogate needing the bonus over that was not used by 'Boro.