THE race for promotion from Hunters York & District Senior League division one is hotting up with three clubs locked in a battle for second spot.

Leaders Whitkirk maintained their grip on top spot, with a weekend victory over Beverley Town, but Harrogate, Folkton & Flixton, and Malton & Old Malton are seperated by just 30 points in the next three placings.

Harrogate stayed second after they got the better of a draw at Pocklington. Ashley Griffin followed up last week’s unbeaten 89 with 59 and Ben Kempley added 57 in a total of 268-9.

John Chaplin (59 not out) also recorded back-to-back half-centuries and was there at the end as Pocklington closed on 194-7.

Third placed Malton & Old Malton made it five wins from six with a five wicket victory at Bridlington.

Simon Lesson (57) scored his second half-century in as many weeks and Nick Tennant made 49 but Thomas Bumby took 4-33 to help dismiss the home side for 175.

Neil Johnson (82) controlled the visitors’ response as, despite Harry Burnhill’s 3-46, they eased to victory with half a dozen overs to spare.

Fourth placed Folkton & Flixton needed only 11.4 overs to reach 87-2 in reply to Osbaldwick’s 85 all out.

James Smith scored 38 for the league's basement side but his was a lone effort as Jamie Nesfield finished with 4-32. Anthony Stones led the host's reply with 43 as they kept up the pressure on the three sides above them.

Whitkirk, meanwhile, scored the 104 required to beat Beverley Town in just 10.5 overs. Simon Webb took 6-24 as the home side only just reached three figures thanks, largely, to Harry Gamble (37). Matthew Webb then raced to an unbeaten 73 as Whitkirk won without losing a wicket.

Sewerby scored 200-8 against Selby but were unable to celebrate victory as their opponents held on having slumped from 91-3 to 132-9.

Two of last season’s promoted sides met as Patrington entertained Hornsea and it was the visitors who emerged victorious, by six wickets, thanks to an unbeaten century from Jonathan Fisher (108no).

That came in response to the home side's total of 176-8 which contained 48 from Ashley McKinley.