The only two teams who had won both their opening fixtures clashed at Clifton Alliance where visiting Easingwold recorded an important victory when they beat the reigning champions by five wickets.

Third placed Sheriff Hutton Bridge suffered a one wicket defeat at Pocklington in a game which epitomised the appeal of league cricket.

There was a similar result at Whitkirk where Woodhouse Grange repeated their one wicket triumph of last year when they edged home by virtue of a dropped catch.

Aussie Mark Owen guided Stamford Bridge to a six wicket win over Duncombe Park to take them to the top of the first division with a one point advantage over York. Owen took 4-46 and then made 54.

Dringhouses and Goole Town recorded ten wicket victories, Civil Service and Beverley being the two victims. However, Sessay's dismal 52 all out against their long-standing rivals was, perhaps, the most humiliating performance.

Stuart Coleman hit an unbeaten 101 as Carlton Towers maintained their 100 per cent record in division two with a nine wicket win over Bubwith, but the day's batting honours went to Dringhouses all rounder John Crowe whose 171 at Civil Service was only seven runs short of a divisional record.

Four clubs, Castleford, Harrogate, Cawood and Heworth, failed to provide details of individual performances when submitting their results and will be penalised, as will Sheriff Hutton, who failed to submit their result.

In the premier division the two early season front runners clashed at Clifton Alliance where Easingwold's hero was overseas player Matthew Schenke whose 87 played a significant part in his side's victory.

Joel Southam was the only early order home batsman to prosper, making 40 as his side slipped to 80-5. Clifton's fortunes were then restored by Rob Taylor (52) and James Postill (53), who put on 100 for the sixth wicket to help their side to 194-7.

When Easingwold replied, Schenke dominated an opening stand of 72 with Martin Piercy and found an ally in Martin Robinson, who made 30, as they opened up a 21 point lead in the title race.

At Pocklington, Sheriff Hutton Bridge's teenage opener Michael Sinclair recorded his maiden first team half century, making an impressive 75 as he completely dominated an opening stand of 103 with Paul Oldfield (24) who was stumped in bizarre fashion to give the home side their breakthrough.

Kevin Hinch then wrought complete havoc as the Bridge's batting collapsed in spectacular fashion.

He claimed 6-42 and Mal Harrison 3-35 as the Bridge lost all ten wickets in the space of 34 runs to be all out for 137.

Bridge's new overseas player Shakil Nawaz, who had been dismissed for a duck on his debut, found difficulty in achieving line and length in a rather expensive opening stand, but claimed the wicket of Andy Inns by virtue of a superb catch by Gareth Hardcastle.

Useful knocks by Dave O'Gram 31, Kev Hinch 27 and Ian Camwell 25 put the home side on course for victory as they progressed to 85-4.

However, Paul Oldfield then bowled a fine spell which earned him 4-23 and Nawaz produced a much better second spell to grab two wickets to finish with 3-59.

Because of their efforts Pocklington lost four wickets in a thrilling finish before skipper Martin Nesom steered the winning boundary to third man after losing two partners with the scores level.

Thirsk skipper Dave Greenlay hit 80 and Andrew Hawke 49 in a third wicket partnership of 116 against Acomb. With overseas player Lincoln McCrae making 58 the home side totalled 235-4.

Acomb were reduced to 119-7 before Steve Simpson, with 68no and Dave Sykes 25no, steered them to a draw at 180-7. Barry Petty bowled 25 overs to claim 3-89.

Andy Hall's 78 helped Osbaldwick gain the better of a draw with local rivals Heworth.

Simon Jackson helped the home side to 219 all out, making 46 as Ian Smith took 4-58 and Martin Sigsworth 3-46.

Heworth were then guided to a draw by Aussie Nick Fisher, who made 32no, as fellow countryman Adam Kratzman claimed 3-44. Paul Mosey chipped in with 29 as Heworth totalled 140-7.

Woodhouse Grange recorded a one wicket win at Whitkirk for the second year running when they scraped past the home total of 132-8. Whitkirk's batsmen fared badly as Paul Grewer took 4-24 but Stuart Pickles 34no and Tom Glover 30no gave their innings an air of respectability after skipper Craig Shipton had made 26.

Andy Proctor then almost bowled the hosts to victory with a 6-50 return, but Nick Hadfield made 43 and Rich Burdett 32 as Woodhouse edged from 114-8 to win by one wicket as the winning run came via a dropped catch.

Australian Neal Simmonds tipped the scales in Pickering's favour and earned them the better of a draw against old East Riding rivals Driffield.

Simmonds made 64 and Brian Leckenby 42 in a 102 opening stand for Pickering then Colin Frank made an unbeaten 46 as Pickering reached 212-6.

Chris Smith took 3-69 in a 16 over spell for the hosts.

Driffield then were very well positioned at 171-3 thanks to Phil Woodcock's 61, 30 from John Woolley and Ankar Sondhi's 47 before Simmonds took 4-33 and Matt Yates 3-32 to leave the home side deficient at 192-8.