ONLY two points separate the top four sides in division one of the Pilmoor Evening Cricket League.

Wins for Helperby and Thirsk, coupled with defeats for leaders Sessay and second-placed Newburgh, threw the title race wide open as the season approaches its halfway point.

Sessay lost for the first time this season when they visited previously winless Clifton Alliance.

The visiting side’s batsmen fared well enough as 44 from Paul Flintoff and 54 from skipper Matthew Wass took them to 143-4.

Nick Hindle and Jason Gatus gave Clifton’s reply a sound start, but Hindle fell in the teens before Gatus went on to make 38.

The match-winning innings came from Scott Hopkinson, who made an unbeaten 63 to take his side to victory at 147-3 with more than an over to spare.

Helperby revived their challenge with a comfortable victory at home to Newburgh.

Peter Orton, with 28, and Ross McKenzie, with 22, took the hosts to 130-8 as wickets fell regularly to Jason Sargent, who took 4-for 30.

Tom Banks also claimed 2-40 as Helperby closed on 130-8.

Newburgh’s reply got off to a poor start and never recovered and they folded to 66 all out, Will Moss top scoring with 18.

Helperby’s match-winners were Ollie Swiers (3-10), Dan Marston (2-3) and Jamie Allen (2-17).

Thirsk were another side to revive their title challenge when they made the trip to Dringhouses and returned with the points.

Telling contributions from Stuart Christon (41), Ben England (51no) and Jake Petty (30) helped Thirsk to post 135-5.

Lewis Chipchase emerged as the outstanding home bowler when claiming 3-18.

In reply, Dringhouses had several batsmen who made starts, typified by 19 from George Wilson and 17 not out from Tom Owen, but no one went on to play a match-winning innings and they fell short on 107-9.

James Wilkinson took 3-15 and Mark Nursey 2-19 for the winning side.

Alne batted first at Sheriff Hutton Bridge and the bulk of their score was provided by openers Nick Johnson and Stuart Morley, whose stand had realised 89 before Morley was dismissed for 39.

Ollie Needham claimed some late scalps for Bridge in returning figures of 3-5, and Alne closed on 109-4 with opener Johnson unbeaten on 49.

Bridge lost an early wicket but a century partnership between Ian Clish (62no) and Murray Coyle (39no) saw them to a comfortable victory at 111-1.