THE top two in the Hunters York & District Senior League premier division both suffered surprise defeats to sides that began the day occupying the relegation places.

Whitkirk's Matthew (120no) and Simon (116) Webb put leaders Sessay to the sword in an opening stand worth 219 at Selby Road.

The brothers laid the perfect foundation for an eight-wicket win, which lifts them clear of the relegation places, after they chased an imposing target of 270-9.

Earlier Simon, the elder of the pair, took 6-62 in the hosts' innings in which Liam Carver made an unbeaten 58 and both Joe Watson (48) and Stuart Peirse (43) both come close to half-centuries.

Dunnington's defeat at home to bottom-of-the-table Malton & Old Malton put them out of the top two.

George Drury (56) made his third fifty in five matches and Oliver Sherwood 46, but the bowling of Stuart Watmore (3-36) and Harrison Wood (4-32) kept the score to a manageable 206-9. Jonathan Anderson returned 4-41 in reply but a second half-century in six days from Daniel Foxton (57) and Tom Bumby's unbeaten 83 helped to seal the visitors' first win of the season.

Studley Royal moved into the top two on the back of a narrow victory at Bolton Percy.

Dan Craven (76) and Dan Coad (50) were the major contributors in the visitors' 161-8, which included three wickets each from Tom Anderson (3-54) and Tom Atkinson (3-29).

Alistair Rigby (40) led a faltering response which ended on 138, with Matthew Coad taking 3-28 and Dan Craven capping a fine all-round performance with 3-42.

Beverley Town scored a valuable victory over local rivals Driffield Town at Norwood Park to keep up the pressure on the sides above them.

Harry Burnhill (43) and Grant Halder (41) shared the batting honours for the visitors, Guy Brumfield taking 3-38 in a total of 185-9.

Robert Fish played a match-winning innings of 83 but the home side didn't have things all their own way, losing six wickets in pursuit of the target.

Goole Town returned to the relegation zone after they came out second best at home to Pickering.

An unbeaten 52 from Isaac Christopher and 39 from Colin Frank helped the visitors reach 220-8, despite three wickets apiece from Richard Mann (3-55) and Ben Lamb (3-36).

Ashton Nottingham's 43 was the highlight of the hosts' response which had reached 150-8 by the close.

In the day's other game, Castleford made it three wins out of four as they beat York by 64 runs at Shipton Road, with the hosts being out for 152 chasing a target of 216-8.