WOODHOUSE Grange lead the Foss Evening Cricket League division one championship race at halfway stage after their 14-run victory against fellow high-fliers York.

Fielding a strong batting line-up, Grange rattled up 149-5 with contributions from Mike Hattee (67), Nick Hadfield (42) and Tom Quinn (25).

Talented youngster Charlie Elliot top-scored in the York reply with 53, receiving support from Russ Bowry (33). Hattee took 2-21.

Londesborough Park claimed their second big-name scalp of the season as Stamford Bridge joining York on the list of those unable to defend a score at Park Farm. Matty Turnbull (56), Matt Beckett (29) and Phil Hill (29) led the Battle Axes to 141-6, with Tom Williamson claiming 3-27 in his five overs.

Skipper Mike Drewery made an unbeaten 49, with support from James Hanley (30), to lead his side to victory with eight balls and six wickets to spare.

Heworth moved into second place with a nine-wicket victory over Stockton & Hopgrove.

In division two, Osbaldwick’s Tom Young smashed eight sixes in a knock of 99 not out as his side chased down Bubwith’s 145-4 in just 14.5 overs at The Leyes. Earlier, Rich Readman (54) and Sean Houltham (48no) helped Bubwith post a competitive total.

Young was assistant by an unbeaten 45 from Johnny Rawsthorne.

Melbourne, hunting a second successive promotion, continue to head the division after an 11-run victory over Bishopthorpe.

Tim Blackmore (40) and Sam Shipley (33no) took the leaders to 102-5 and the Melbourne bowlers then shared the wickets as Stanley Brown (26) was the only Bishopthorpe run-scorer of note in their 91 all out.

Pocklington maintained a promotion position with an eight-wicket victory against Yapham. Young seamer Huw Jones took 3-41 to keep Yapham in check, skipper Jack Holman (26) and Josh Miller (32no) taking the visitors to 122-5.

Ted Donkin then made 30 for Pock before skipper Alex Downey (32no) and Josh Britland (53no) shared an unbroken alliance to claim victory.

The Retreat are still in the hunt, three points outside the promotion places, after a crushing 86 run win against Ovington. Salman Syed (68no) was again in the runs before skipper Adam Mosley slammed 30 in 14 balls to take Retreat to 166-7.

Khalid Shefta then gutted the Ovington batting line-up, taking 6-20, as only Steve Littlewood (30) showed any resistance as the home side folded for 80.

Aviva Vikings are well positioned to make an immediate return to division two after a five-wicket win over York RI. Abhishek Galoda followed last week’s half-century with 55, receiving support from Sunny Sharma (28) and Neil De (26), to chase down the target with three balls to spare

Earlier, Vikings’ Chris Hall (3-22) checked the progress of S Littlewood (58) and Michael Charno (29) to keep RI to 135-7.

Heworth Colts recorded a 63-run victory over Askham Bryan.

Fulfordgate picked up their first win of the season in a basement battle with Retreat II. Pete Fairclough’s 46, allied to Dennie Jewitt’s 28, led ’Gate to 126-8 as Ian Monroe (4-38) and Bruce Kitchener (3-26) were in the wickets.

Patrick Durkin then took 5-14, including a triple-wicket maiden, to wreck the Retreat’s reply and leave them short at 102-9.