YORK increased their lead at the top of the Hunters ECB Yorkshire Premier League North despite being thwarted by the rain, as nearest rivals Sheriff Hutton Bridge suffered a surprise defeat to Castleford.

At the other end of the table, Harrogate secured a vital win in their bid to climb out of the bottom two.

Leaders York had to settle for eight points against Driffield Town after a heavy downpour left the Kings Mill Road ground unfit for play to resume.

Duncan Snell’s fourth century in eight innings helped the visitors reach 253-6, with opening partner Finlay Bean contributing 42.

After a bright start, including a half-century from Mark Tennant, the hosts lost four quick wickets and slipped behind the required rate by the time play was halted. Oliver Leedham took 3-32 to limit Driffield to 123-5 and ensure DLS would award the visitors a comfortable victory by 43 runs.

Woodhouse Grange moved up to second after they won by 129 runs at Clifton Alliance to extend their unbeaten run to six matches.

Chris Wood (99 not out) narrowly missed out on a century, but his partnerships of 118 with Simon Tennant (65) and 81 with Chris Bilton (42) helped the visitors reach 261-3.

Opener David Taylor top scored with 29 for the home side who were undone by an excellent spell from visiting captain James Finch who finished with figures of 6-40 from 13 overs as the hosts were dismissed for 132.

Castleford scored a memorable victory at high-flying Sheriff Hutton Bridge by just six runs. Visiting skipper David Wainwright put on a brilliant individual performance, making 69 and taking five wickets. Russell Robinson (3-33) and Dulash Udayanga (4-29) were both heavily involved as the visitors were bowled out for 202, which also included 43 from Rizwan Hussain.

The home side looked to have things under control with Adam Fisher (48), Dulash Udayanga (33) and Robert Pinder (49) all making runs but a dramatic slump saw the last six wickets fall for just 39. Connor Hyde struck twice towards the end before Wainwright held his nerve in the final over to secure his side's first win in four.

Scarborough remain fourth in the table after leaving it late to beat Acomb with just nine balls remaining at North Marine Road.

The visitors looked to be in trouble after an excellent early spell from Jonathan Anderson (3-33) and Linden Grey (4-46) kept up the pressure but a ninth-wicket partnership worth 60 between Tom Neal (50) and Joe Schofield (31) helped them recover to reach 197.

Oliver Stephenson (42) ensured the home side remained on track during the early part of the reply before an unbeaten half-century from Ben Elvidge (50no) saw them over the line.

Former Yorkshire Academy pupils Will Rhodes (85) and Ryan Gibson (48) enjoyed a successful return to Weetwood as Stamford Bridge overcame the current intake by 40 runs in a rain-affected contest.

Despite the efforts of Tom Loten (4-45) for the hosts, further runs from Dominic Rhodes (64) and Chris Grey (36no) helped the visitors to an imposing 283-5, reduced to 199 from 30 overs following a break for rain.

After what had been a promising start, thanks to 30 from Matt Revis, the hosts lost their way as four wickets fell for just three runs and, despite 41 from Matthew Taylor, they finished well short of the target, with Dominic Rhodes taking 3-35.

The match between two strugglers at the wrong end of the table went Harrogate's way, with Tom Geeson-Brown’s contributions with both bat (51no) and ball (3-61) to thank as they overcame Sessay by 79 runs.

A half-century from Josh Atkinson (64) and William Bates’ 42 helped the visitors reach 252-8 despite the efforts of Navin Kavikara (3-37).

Jacob Spencer (40) top scored for the home side but early wickets from Geeson-Brown and five from Ashley Griffin (5-34) meant they were never in a position to challenge the target.