CLIFTON Alliance and Easingwold remain locked together at the top of the Hunters York & District Senior League after both secured victories.

Meanwhile, at the opposite end of the table, Heworth look almost certain to be relegated despite recording their first win of the season.

Scott Hopkinson turned in a fine all-round performance for leaders Clifton Alliance as they won at Hull Zingari by six wickets. He and Kevin Bradley finished unbeaten on 73 and 57 respectively as the visitors chased down a target of 183 with almost 21 overs to spare.

Earlier, Matthew Bunn made 42 for the hosts as David Friend took 3-26 and Hopkinson 3-40.

Their fifth straight victory is a record for this season’s competition and gives them plenty of momentum going into the final four matches.

Second-placed Easingwold returned to winnings ways, having lost their previous two matches, beating Driffield Town by two wickets with five balls to spare.

Grant Halder finished on the losing side despite an outstanding day with both bat and ball – it began with an unbeaten century (119no) with he and Tom Norman (52) the major contributors to a total of 228-8.

That was followed with figures of 5-58 but Kyle Waite (92) and Zak Wilson (65) starred in a successful chase before Paul Scaling (35no) saw them over the line.

Victory for Sessay at home to Studley Royal saw them take over third place from their opponents. James Clarkson (105) scored the first of two centuries in the match, and shared a third wicket partnership of 101 with Rob Nicholson (42).

Nick Stuart also made 62 whilst Tim Hall (4-38) took four of the five wickets to fall in a total of 239. Mark Wilkie led the hosts reply with 104 and support from Jacob Spencer (53) and Matthew Till (40) kept last year’s division one champions in with a chance of back-to-back promotions.

York, one of the competition’s form sides, extended their unbeaten run to six matches, and were only denied a third consecutive victory by Beverley Town’s last wicket pair.

Ian Jarvis, a centurion last week, top scored for the visitors with 51 whilst Ben Robinson (47) and Jonathan Moxon (48) also contributed to a total of 242-7.

Matthew Hodsdon (4-36) with his second four-wicket haul in a row and Tom Spearman (4-59) almost secured victory but Robert Fish (50) and Olly Grantham (41) grabbed a share of the points for the hosts.

Bolton Percy remain in danger of an immediate return to division one after they were beaten by visitors Pickering by eight wickets.

Tim Whincup (4-57) and Kieran Bowes (3-35) helped bowl out the hosts for 222 despite Jamie Rigby’s 62 and 42 from Ed Noble.

Chris Nichols (57), Colin Frank (62) and Ryan Bowes (50) all made half-centuries to give their side a first win in five attempts.

Heworth finally opened their account but it looks to have come too late to save them from relegation.

Chris Barrett finished unbeaten on 49 and Guy Wilkinson 39 as the visitors scored 215-9 whilst James Kerr (3-40) and Richard Mann (3-61) shared six wickets.

Graham Knott then bowled the competition’s bottom side to victory, taking 5-29 as Goole Town could only make 144 in reply despite a half-century from Ashton Nottingham (56).