Woodhouse Grange take over at premier division summit in Hunters York & District Senior Cricket League (From York Press)

Woodhouse Grange take over at premier division summit in Hunters York & District Senior Cricket League

9:45pm Sunday 19th August 2012 in Sport By Albert Pattison

CHAMPIONS Woodhouse Grange hit the front in the race for the premier division title in the Hunters York & District Senior Cricket League.

The Yorkshire Tea National Village Cup finalists are favourites to retain the title after a 103-run victory at Selby .

Grange were only able to post a total of 151-9 as Josh Jackson claimed 6-56 in a game dominated by spinners. Nick Hadfield made 34 and Chris Bilton 32. The second innings also saw runs at a premium as spinner Hadfield took 5-18 and paceman Richard Mann 3-15 to topple Selby for 48.

Studley Royal were ousted from top spot when they suffered a five-wicket defeat at Clifton Alliance. Studley skipper Steve Walmsley struck 72 out of a total of 156-9 and in reply Adam Slater made 32 and Nick Hindle 42.

Goole’s chances of avoiding the drop look slim after they suffered a heavy home defeat at the hands of Easingwold. Martin Piercy (65) and Jon Marwood (68) put on 143 for the first Easingwold wicket. Matt Turnbull then hit 38 not out to hoist Easingwold’s total to 234-7. Goole’s Dave England took 3-44 in 11 overs.

Paul Redshaw (4-38 off 11 overs) and Paul Skilbeck (3-39 in 16 overs) skittled Goole for 86.

Dave Chaplin took 5-66 and Oliver Pimlott 5-80 as they shared the wickets when Stamford Bridge took the short trip to Dunnington . Unfortunately for the wicket-taking pair Dunnington’s batsmen made 217 all out thanks to father and son Paul (68) and Gareth Miles (36). Collis King added 44. In reply, Dom Rhodes made 45 as Stamford were dismissed for 148 by Dave Johnson (3-52), Jack Bolam (4-66) and Rob Smith (3-1).

There was a tense draw at Sessay where Beverley emerged with the better points haul as the hosts failed by two runs to claim a status-saving victory. Beverley’s 168 all out included runs from Ian Gilyon (31) and Andy Hamson (34), while Liam Carver claimed 6-34 and skipper Stephen Langstaff supported with 3-44. Jacob Spencer then hit 42 and Chris Till 69, but a 3-38 stint by Peter Groves left Sessay agonisingly short at 167-8.

Having lost their unbeaten record last week, Sheriff Hutton Bridge suffered a second defeat after a poor batting performance at York II. Only Mark Fisher (30) and Josh Cockerill (38) made runs as Jake Murphy (5-62 off 17 overs) and Matt Hodgson (3-41 off 18 overs) had them all out for 118.

York ’keeper Nigel Durham held four catches and completed a stumping. Jamie Hopper (4-40) then gave the visitors hope by taking three early wickets as York slipped to 80-6. However, opener Simon Lambert’s unbeaten 57 earned the Clifton Parkers a four-wicket triumph.

Acomb and Sewerby are on the threshold of promotion to the top flight after recording wins in division one.

Leaders Acomb completed their 11th victory of the season by six wickets at Pickering.

Batting first, the home side moved to 97-2 as Dave Greenlay (52) and Colin Frank (31) starred, but Simon Brown took 4-35 and Joe Dale 3-22 to dismiss them for 141.

Andy Tute hit 56 and Joe Halstead added 41 not out to see Acomb home.

Sewerby beat visitors Harrogate by seven wickets, with Chris Chapman’s unbeaten 66 seeing them past Harrogate’s 132 all out.

Folkton & Flixton rattled up 310-6 against Thirsk, who replied with 168-9 to earn a draw. Flixton’s total was based on an opening stand of 122 between the league’s top run-scorer Oliver Stephenson, whose 87 took him to 723 for the season, and Neil Elvidge, who made 61. Thirsk skipper Ben England took 4-82 before team-mate Bobby Hunter led the reply with a handy 67. Bottom-placed Bolton Percy suffered their tenth defeat of the season and seem destined to make a swift return to division two.

Batting first at home to Hull Zingari, Matt Westwood (44) and Joseph Hallam (31) carried them to 151. Zingari moved to a four-wicket win with seven overs to spare.

Driffield eased out of the relegation zone when they had the better of a draw against Heworth . There were half-centuries from Carl Busfield (66) and Tom Norman (51) in a total of 214-7. Will Peat claimed 5-57 for Heworth. Dave Simpson led the reply with 70 and Rich Walton struck 56, but their innings was restricted to 195-8 as Grant Holder (3-37) and James Grieveson (3-59) kept Driffield ahead.

Tadcaster Magnet maintained their division two promotion drive with an 83-run win at York III.

John Hill made 42 in Taddy’s 162 all out, with York’s Matt Wright taking 4-24 and Kalum Ahmed 3-54.

When York replied, Ryan Waite made 45 but Paul Clark (3-32) and Ed Day (4-20) had them all out for 79.

Londesborough Park edged above visitors Hornsea into third place after beating them by six wickets. Leaders Beverley II amassed 264-6 at home to lowly Hull en route to a 110-run win. Malton & Old Malton virtually ensured safety when they defeated Dringhouses by two wickets with an over to spare thanks to a fine unbeaten 60 by Wayne Dawson. Earlier, Chris Storey hit 58 and John Patrick 31 in a Dringhouses total of 162-6, with Matt Yates taking 3-54 for the hosts. Chris Evans hit back with 3-58 but Dawson, together with Mike Linsley (27), saw Malton home in the 44th over.

Osbaldwick drew with Whitkirk, replying to 193-8 with 109-9.

Andy Hall took 3-62 and Anthony Butterfield 3-20 for Osbaldwick, while Adam Burton followed with 32 runs.

Thorp Arch drew with visitors Clifton Alliance II.

NEW Earswick lost by eight wickets as they were only able to field ten men in their division three game at home to Pocklington.

Stuart Massheder made 31 but a 3-15 return by Ian Moorhouse had Earswick all out for 78. Pock lost two cheap wickets before Richard Readman (31no) and Neil Jackson (36no) knocked off the runs.

There was a cracking game at Carlton Towers as the home side almost matched Hovingham’s 232-5, hitting 227-6 to earn a 90 per cent draw.

Stuart Prest hit 106, his 14th league century, as he figured in a 100-run partnership for the third wicket with Richie Brown (39). Former Pickering player Kevin Wilson made an unbeaten 30 as Hovingham pouched full batting points. Matt Torn gained 3-40. Carlton’s reply was fronted by Darren Graves, who hit 73 not out. He was well supported by Louis Ellin (44) and Mark Holmes (38). Stephen Mosey claimed 3-49.

Duncombe Park mounted a successful run chase to pass a high target set by Scarborough and win by three wickets with two balls to spare. Joe Padmore hit 86 for Boro, Josh Mainprize added 56 and Ash Kundi 41 in a total of 221-4. Park’s Brian Leckenby scored 45 in reply, but it was a fine knock by Peter Humpleby that decided the game as he struck 88 as his side edged to victory at 224-7.

Sheriff Hutton gained a draw at home to Ripon, totalling 143-8 chasing 195-5.

Ripon’s John Waterfield made 57 and Rob Taylor 74, and Barry Kettlewell (3-53) and Chris Hazzard (3-38) then kept Sheriff under control.

Woodhouse Grange II are the only unbeaten side in the entire league but their lead was cut to only one point as they drew with Malton & Old Malton II.

Grange declared after 40 overs on 243-2 thanks to a huge opening stand of 211 by Luke Cattle (75) and Jonathon Bean (123).

Malton then made a good reply that belied their 11th place in the table. Jim Baxter hit 50, while Martin Woodliffe hit 35 and Stu Whatmore 32. Richard Hollingsworth took 4-37 but Malton’s last pair were able to salvage a draw at 187-9.

DRIFFIELD III moved into second place in division four with a ten-wicket win over visitors Pickering II.

Mike Nicholson took 3-6 and Owen Goldsworthy 4-3 runs as the Pikes were dismissed for 83. John Wooley (40no) and James Robinson (37no) then raced to victory.

Leaders Acomb II were held to a draw by Goole II. James Fletcher hit 56 and Matt Williams 54 not out as Acomb posted 234-4, but Goole earned a draw at 151-7. Huntington slipped down a place to third when bottom-placed Castleford held out for a draw. Huntington’s Tom Shaw hit 113 not out in 198-6. Drax had the better of a draw with Hull Zingari. They made 212-9 thanks to Andrew Shelton (69) and Kev Thomas (51no), but Zingari replied with 170-9. Adrian Leckenby took 5-19 for Easingwold but was unable to prevent a two-wicket win for Fenner. Connor McKinley made 64 and Matt Dixon 61 as Patrington logged their 11th win in division five against Londesborough Park. Danny Collinson claimed 5-29 for Patrington. Tom Neal (4-24) and Nadeem Sadiq (3-17) bowled Heworth II to a 57-run win over Selby II to keep their promotion bid on course. Ted Patmore (4-9) and Bob Procter (3-30) set up a York IV win at Stamford Bridge, completed by Dave Patmore’s 56 not out. Sheriff Hutton Bridge had a 117-run win over Welton & Brough, with Dan Clipston taking 4-28.

Hornsea are the new leaders of division six after beating Rowntrees. Dave Ward made 63 in ’Trees’ 176-9 but Hornsea edged to a two-wicket win despite Paul Horner’s 4-51. Previous leaders Bolton Percy dropped three points in a draw at Cawood . Andrew Brewster, with 57, and Mike Furze, who had 6-26, were Bolton’s stars. Dan Woodhead’s unbeaten 47 staved off defeat as Cawood closed on 101-8. Ted Donkin hit 67 not out in a six-wicket Pocklington II win over Dunnington II, while 55 not out by Mick Hammerton enabled Osbaldwick to draw at Tadcaster Magnet. Woodhouse Grange III had an eight-wicket win against Thorp Arch.

Drax batsman Paul Vickers hit a club record in the York Senior League with 140 not out as his side rattled up 279-4 in a 156-run win over bottom-placed Cawood II. Henry Crawford’s 61 for Sheriff Hutton failed to stop Civil Service winning by five wickets.

Hovingham’s George Wainwright grabbed 6-18 in a win over Carlton Towers, while Stillington II beat Huby by 13 runs.