CLIFTON Alliance are the new leaders of the Hunters York & District Senior League premier division after they took advantage of a surprise defeat for Easingwold who had topped the table for the last two months.

Alex Renton – the competition's leading wicket-taker – was in devastating form taking 7-42, the second time he has achieved the feat this season and in doing so passed the 50 wickets mark, as Heworth were bowled out for 140 despite 63 from Andy Armstrong.

The new league leaders then raced to victory with 18 overs to spare, Nicholas Hindle finishing unbeaten on 65 as the visitors won by eight wickets.

Former leaders Easingwold lost for the second time in a row, but only the third time this season, going down to a shock defeat by eight wickets at home to relegation threatened Bolton Percy.

Danny White took 5-39 as the hosts were bowled out for 191, Mark Mierzwinski the top scorer with 49.

Tom Atkinson (72) and Jamie Rigby (69no) then helped secure the result which lifts the visitors out of the bottom two.

Studley Royal climbed to third as they got the better of a draw at home to Hull Zingari who now find themselves in the relegation places.

Rob Mackle made it back to back half-centuries after the previous week’s effort in a losing cause against Beverley Town with an unbeaten 71, and put alongside 83 from Ian Dixon and James Clarkson’s 50, the hosts were able to reach and imposing total of 288-3.

Jack Storey replied with 109 as the visitors got to within 40 of their target, Oliver Simenacz finishing with figures of 4-48.

Half-centuries from Mark Wilkie (56) and Simon Mason (55) guided Sessay to victory at Driffield Town as the visitors made 180-5 in reply to the home sides total of 179 all out, winning with more than 14 overs to spare.

Earlier, Stephen Langstaff had taken 3-46 whilst Tom (43) and Will (45) Norman had provided more than half of their sides’ total

York are up to sixth following an eight wicket win in a high scoring contest at Goole Town.

Despite four wickets each from Matthew Hodsdon (4-56) and Kieron McAdam (4-42), the visitors were still left facing a total of 281-9 which included 77 from Ollie Ounsley and an unbeaten half-century for Neil Foster (50no).

Ian Jarvis put the visitors into an excellent position scoring 117, which paved the way for Nick Kay and Richard Love to seal victory with both finishing unbeaten on 61.

The day’s tightest finish came at Mill Lane where visitors Beverley Town beat Pickering with just five balls to spare.

The hosts looked to have done enough when Chris Nichols (62) and David Greenlay (39) got them to 231-8, that despite three wickets each from Bradley Graham (3-57) and Sam Welburn (3-50).

Olly Grantham made 44 in the reply, but it was an unbeaten 85 from Harry Gamble which turned out to be the match winning performance.