SHERIFF Hutton Bridge were halted by the weather as they targeted a victory over premier division leaders Woodhouse Grange in the Hunters York & District Senior Cricket League.

The home side were in the driving seat when the rain came, having reduced Grange to 11-2 in reply to their 208-4.

Robert Pinder’s unbeaten 84 was the cornerstone of the Bridge innings. In-form bowler Mark Fisher then claimed both wickets to fall before the abandonment.

Third-placed Dunnington also had a lot of work to do at Beverley when the weather intervened.

The hosts had started the day in fine style, reaching 235-8 thanks largely to Olly Grantham’s 81, but rain stopped play with the visitors on 93-2.

Easingwold gained a valuable point over Dunnington as they had the better part of their abandoned match.

Paul Skilbeck scored a splendid unbeaten 127 as Easingwold totalled 299-4 declared against bottom side Selby, who were on 68-2 when the match was curtailed.

Studley Royal would have hoped to keep up the pressure on the teams above them as they played host to Clifton Alliance.

It was the visitors, however, who took the initiative as John Thornton’s 5-45 reduced the home side to 118.

In reply, Alliance were 31-2 and may well have been pleased to see the rain that secured them the better of the points.

Sewerby and York II went into their game on equal points towards the bottom of the division.

Home side Sewerby reached 172-9 with half-centuries from both Michael Artley and Russ Robinson.

The second innings lasted longer than most before rain, with York reaching 115-4 to gain a one-point advantage over their opposition.

In the mid-table clash between Acomb and Stamford Bridge, Acomb set out to put themselves further from the relegation zone, reaching a respectable 203-8 with Joe Dale leading the way on 49.

Stamford Bridge had reached 23-0 before rain stopped play.

In division one, Pickering’s David Greenlay scored 127, his first century of the season, and Mark Shepherd hit 91 to take the home team to 261-5 declared.

In reply, Whitkirk managed to bat out the additional overs to gain a draw at 119-8.

Fenner completed a valuable win, gaining maximum points against relegation-threatened Beverley Town.

Town’s 133-9 was never enough as Fenner secured a nine-wicket victory to stay in contact with the leaders.

Runs were in plentiful supply at Goole, where the home side batted first and scored 252-3.

In reply, Bridlington faced up to some good bowling from Steve Hicks (5-48) but held on for a draw at 204-7.

Folkton & Flixton’s match against Heworth looked to be in the balance, with Heworth on 110-5 chasing Folkton & Flixton’s 197-6 when they had to leave the field.

At Harrogate, Hull Zingari had reached 16-0 in reply to the home team’s 175-5 when they had to call a halt.

Woodhouse Grange’s promotion hopes were dealt a blow by a defeat at Thirsk in division two.

Jon Bean’s 58 led Grange to a total of 141-6, but Thirsk sealed a six- wicket win thanks largely to a fine 79 from Kieron Fenwick.

Second-placed Malton & Old Malton took maximum points from an easy ten-wicket victory over struggling Thorp Arch and Boston Spa.

Mark Yates took 6-14 as Arch were bowled out for only 80, allowing Malton to cruise home thanks to openers Wayne Dawson and Martyn Woodliffe.

Malton are now within eight points of top spot.

Leaders Londesborough Park looked to be in trouble against fourth-placed Bolton Percy when their match was abandoned.

Park had been reduced to 124-9 by Andrew Brewster (3-17) and Tom Atkinson (3-38).

Bolton Percy appeared to be cruising to victory at 70-2 when the heavens opened.

Welton & Brough recorded a surprise victory as they overhauled Hornsea’s 177-8. Paul Johnson scored 98 for Hornsea, but Welton won by five wickets.

The mid-table matches at Tadcaster Magnets and Hull, hosts to Clifton Alliance II and York III respectively, were abandoned early in the second innings.

Sheriff Hutton beat Ripon by 91 runs to climb to second in division three.

In one of only two matches in the division to reach a conclusion, Sheriff Hutton scored 188-9.

Joel Wilford top-scored with 44, while Andy Frank finished on 42 not out and Eddie Hull hit 30.

In reply, Ripon were bowled out for 97 with Elliot Oates making 37 as Wilford took 4-37 and Richard Ainley claimed 4-12.

Carlton Towers moved away from the relegation zone as they posted a 40-run win at bottom side Sessay.

Towers batted first and reached 151-7 and then bowled the hosts out for 111, thanks to 6-35 from William Brown.

Dringhouses had the upper hand in their game against leaders Duncombe Park when rain stopped play.

Dringhouses totalled 150 thanks to Chris Storey’s 64, while Alistair Holmes took 3-31, Jon Leckenby 3-50 and James Skelton 3-40.

Park were 14-3, with Mick Kenyon taking 2-5, when the match was abandoned.

The weather stopped Pocklington pressing home their advantage against Hovingham.

Pock made 222-4 thanks to Steve Houltham (63) and Neil Readman (78) and had Hovingham 62-4 before the rain came down.

Matt Hattee hit an unbeaten 72 as Osbaldwick made 203-6 against Driffield, who were 16-0 in reply when the rain came.

Acomb II posted 203-8 against Scarborough, who reached 88-2.

Pickering played out a tie at Fenner in division four to move out of the relegation zone.

The Pikes batted first and scored 156-9, while Fenner equalled them for the loss of six wickets.

Leaders Patrington secured full points in a convincing defeat of Malton & Old Malton II.

Patrington batted first and reached 218-9 before dismissing Malton for 112 as Craig Foster claimed 4-44.

Hull Zingari trounced Drax to stay within four points of the leaders. After totalling 235-4, Zingari skittled Drax for 84.

Only one match was completed in division five as Hornsea got the better part of a draw with Welton & Brough.

The pick of the performances in the remaining truncated matches was Gareth Townend’s 92 for Selby II against York IV and Dan Clipston’s 5-35 for Sheriff Hutton Bridge II against Heworth II.

Civil Service moved into second place in division seven as they gained maximum points in a win over Huby.

Huby batted first and closed on 153-9 and that target was knocked off by Civil Service for the loss of seven wickets thanks to 51 from Mike Parkinson.

In the only other completed match, Cawood bowled Dringhouses out for 75 and breezed to a seven-wicket win to move out of the bottom two.

There were no completed matches in division six.

The highest score of the day came from Brandesburton’s Mike Sharp, who contributed 140 to his side’s total of 244-7 against Dunnington, who got to 165-6 before the elements won.

Cawood reached 207-6, with Nathaniel Aitcheson accruing 69, in their abandoned match with Carlton Towers.

Dan Croft hit 63 in Pocklington’s 229-6 against Hovingham, while Andy Patterson got 65 in Osbaldwick’s total of 177 against Thorp Arch and Boston Spa. Woodhouse Grange’s Tom Stubley posted 76 not out against Copmanthorpe.