PROMOTED Westow made a great start to life in division one of the HPH York Vale Cricket League with a 91-run win against Stockton & Hopgrove.

Prolific openers Mark Earle and Andrew Welford, who piled up the runs last season, carried on in the same vein with a partnership of 141.

With Stockton’s pitch too wet after all the pre-season rain, the match was switched to Westow, who made the most of home advantage after being put in to bat.

They looked set for a huge score before the introduction of Kalum Perera, who removed both Earle (80) and Welford (46) within six runs of each other.

Perera went on to dismiss Stockton’s top six batsmen to grab 7-46 as Westow closed on 213-9.

Stockton’s reply got off to a poor start when Richard Kerrison was run out by Ali Fothergill with only six runs on the board. Wickets fell at regular intervals to Earle (4-28) and Adrian Upton (4-32) as Stockton were bowled out for 122, Jamie Kerrison making 30.

Ovington got off to a flier against Burn with openers Tom Cookson (53 from 32 balls) and Craig Nicoll (32 from 35 balls) putting on 83 inside 11 overs.

Ovington slid to 113-6 as Alex Webster (12-3-24-4) got his side back in the game before Ben Morrison (31 not out) and Stefan Littlewood (29) steadied the innings as last season’s runners-up closed on 186-9.

Burn were never in the hunt after losing both openers cheaply. Ovington shared the wickets around their four bowlers with two each for Nicoll, Cookson and Neil Metcalfe. Matthew Besford finished off the tail with 3-34 as Burn were bowled out for 153.

Bishopthorpe began their campaign with a six-wicket home victory against Kelfield, who lost early wickets cheaply, including two in two balls to debutant Pat Mercer (2-26).

Ian Holmes also struck with successive deliveries to leave Kelfield in trouble at 34-5.

Chris Walker (59) held the innings together before falling victim to Holmes (5-29).

Needing 114 to win, Bish were struggling at 22-3 but Ben Smith made an unbeaten half-century as the Ferry Lane side reached their target with 11 overs to spare.

Clifton Alliance posted 178 on a tricky pitch at South Cave & Brantingham in division two.

Five out of the top six Clifton batsmen chipped in with runs, Mark Taylor top scoring with 45 not out.

Only four Cave players reached double figures, as Rich Marshall (4-21) and Josh Bean (4-38) got to work.

Ten-man Malton & Old Malton gave Ovington II a run for their money.

Stand-in captain Ross Harland made 50 as Malton, despite being a man light, batted the overs out for 147-8. Ben Busby took 4-29 from 13 overs.

A good knock of 32 from Joe Whale and further scores of 26 from Tom Armes and 30 from Tim Burgess saw the visitors to 118-3. However, quick wickets fell to Wayne Cullen (3-40) and Will Schofield (2-28) as Ovington slipped to 135-7 before claiming an opening-day victory.

The Press Peformance of the Week: Mark Earle ensured Westow got off to a flying start in division one by hitting 80 and taking 4-28 against Stockton & Hopgrove.