KELFIELD’S Matt Walker floored Clifton Alliance with a brilliant bowling performance in a second v third clash in division one of the HPH York Vale Cricket League.

On a pitch affected by rain, Walker struck in the eighth over with the score at 23, adding the scalp of Tom Bews five runs later.

A stand of 45 between John Myers (33) and Jack Mayfield (39) gave Clifton some momentum and a further 59 was added by Mayfield and Lewis Clark (54) with some heavy hitting.

Alliance were bowled out for 160, Walker having figures of 11-3-23-6 - and he was soon in the thick of the action with the bat too.

He put on 48 in six overs with fellow opener Craig Lawson (29) before falling for 33. Neil Atkinson then batted for 30 overs for an unbeaten match-winning 67.

Runaway leaders Westow's 100 per cent winning record was ended by rain as there was no play in their match at Wheldrake.

The same fate befell the Thixendale v South Cave & Brantingham match.

Burn were 18-3 after only three overs against Melbourne, the trio of wickets all falling to James Coupland (3-22).

Harry Cruise (36) responded but spinner Robin Miller (3-20) tightened Melbourne’s grip as Burn were bowled out for 134, wicketkeeper Matt Beevers claiming four victims.

Cruise snaffled a couple of early wickets but Tim Blackmore (60no) and Oliver Steels (30no) had the game wrapped up in the 18th over, Steels taking 20 runs from one over.

Ovington handed out a 10-wicket hammering to a below-strength Askham Bryan.

Leg-spinner Kurt Baird took 4-11 from eight overs as Askham Bryan capitulated to 49 all out. Liam Herringshaw clubbed six fours and a five - thanks to an overthrow - in a 29-ball knock of 30 not out to see Ovington home.

Division two leaders Stockton & Hopgrove maintained their unbeaten record by defeating bottom club Ben Johnson after a scare.

Good early bowling from Matt Bradshaw (4-18) never let the printers get their run-rate going and, although Martin Reynolds scored 32, they had to settle for 130-8.

Stockton looked in trouble at 24-4 but a 107-run partnership between new signing Rob Cockerill (76no), who is now back at the club, and Tom Williams (36no) saw them home, but not after both were dropped three times.

Thorpe Willoughby also let any chance of victory against Yapham slip through their fingers by shelling 11 catches.

Andy Kirk’s 52, supported by Steve Squires (25) and Danny Crockford (29), enabled Thorpe to post 160-9. Henry Kay (4-20) bowled well with bounce and venom.

Catch after catch went down in Yapham’s innings as 16-year-old batsman Dan Isenstein (86no) secured victory.

Hirst Courtney bowler Jake Wild (6-24) was in sizzling form against Bishopthorpe as his side successfully defended a modest total of 112.

Bishopthorpe found batting even harder as Wild removed Joe Curtis without a run on the board - the first of his four bowled victims - as they were bowled out for 89.

A partnership of 52 between Tony Hinch (49) and Aiden White (27) got Thorpe off to a good start against Pocklington in division three.

They eventually finished on 145-8, Malcolm Harrison taking 4-34.

After a partnership of 65 between Gary Wilson (53) and Alex Ashby (26), Pock went from 97-3 to 138-9 to finish just short. Sam Hinch included two double wicket maidens in his 5-26.

Selby lost a couple of early wickets to Clifton Alliance II Under-15s bowler Ben Hudson, who went on to take 4-24.

Mike Parsonage (42) rallied the Sandhill Lane side before the last four wickets fell for just one run as they were all out for 127.

Twelve-year-old Oliver Parsonage took a couple of early Clifton wickets but Joe Baker (37), Toby Baker (29) and Glynn Brooks-Humphrey’s quick 25 earned Alliance the win.

The rained-off HPH Cup final between Clifton Alliance and South Cave & Brantingham will be re-played at Acomb on Sunday, starting at 1.30pm.

Press Performance of the Week: Kelfield’s Matt Walker took 6-23 and hit a rapid 33 to set up victory against Clifton Alliance in division one.