PROMOTED Sheriff Hutton toppled division one champions Sessay as the 2014 Pilmoor Evening Cricket League season got under way.

Visitors Sessay were made to work hard for their runs as Eddie Hull, returning 4-14, kept their batting in check with Nick Thorne (26) and Mark Jackson (23) leading them to 75-8.

Richard Reynolds led the home reply with 28, but Craig Easton (2-10) and Alastair McKenzie (2-18) kept Sessay in the hunt.

David Hull's unbeaten 21 tipped the scales in Sheriff's favour, the win coming at 77-8 with five balls remaining.

Sheriff Hutton Bridge were in some difficulty at Thirsk against Jake Petty (2-17) and Jake Porter (2-23) before Danny Cass (30no) helped them to 89-6. J Owen (37) and James Wilkinson (22) made significant contributions for Thirsk, but Bridge stuck to their task and a miserly five-over spell by Mark Fisher (2-8), and 3-25 by Jordan Grose edged the game in favour of Bridge as the hosts fell just short on 87-7.

Clifton Alliance posted the highest score of the evening at home to Alne. Scott Hopkinson led the way with 93 not out as Joe Ashdown (20) and Jake Atkinson (19no) lent support before the Alliance closed on 160-2.

Alne closed on 84-7, Alastair Jackson top-scoring with 19 while home youngsters Joe Kilvington (2-14) and Jamie Butt (2-7) took the bowling honours.

Helperby had a comfortable win when they took on visiting Newburgh.

Dan Marston, winner of the bowling cup last year, showed his batting talents in making 58, while Joss Spilman made an unbeaten 43 as Helperby totalled 133-5, youngster Joss Sargent (2-29) and Richard Featherstone (2-20) having most success for Newburgh.

The visitors lost half their side for just 12 runs before a partial recovery saw them reach 51 all out, J Allen (2-5), O Swiers (2-7) and M Cavanagh (2-6) doing the damage.

In division two, Easingwold, who narrowly missed out on promotion last season, began with a victory at Raskelf.

James Postill's half-century was the cornerstone of their 124-2 with Harry Ellis claiming 2-31 for Raskelf.

The home reply closed 35 runs in arrears on 89-6, only M Goddard with 41 posing any threat to the visitors as Liam Leckenby took 2-21.

Relegated Dringhouses were well beaten when they made the short trip to Acomb. Martin Pepper (3-12) and Christian Burton (3-11) held the Dringhouses batsmen in check as they struggled to 86-9.

Although Acomb lost an early wicket, Dan Littlewood (41no) and Dave Darley (33no) took their side to a comfortable victory at 87-1.

The closest contest in the second tier was at New Earswick where Huby were the visitors.

Opener Rob Steele got Huby off to a flying start with 53 from 20 balls and Mike South made 22 not out as Huby closed on 112-2.

When the hosts replied, Lewis Brown made 24 but Ollie Tanner-Smith (3-24) put his side on top and although Adam Hewitson's spirited 40 kept hopes alive, they closed ten runs behind on 102-6.

Rowntrees & Huntington got their season off to a good start with a win at Civil Service.

John Dowd (50ret), Jack Hugill (26) and P Thomson (37no) took their side to 126-3 before the hosts replied with 76-6, S Allen taking 3-8.