A YEAR on from the disappointment of their relegation from the premier division, Hull Zingari sealed their return to the top flight – and what’s more they will be doing so as Hunters York & District Senior League division one champions.

Victory over Sewerby, who began the day in second, by six wickets at Cliff Top sealed the title for the visitors, but also meant that the home side dropped to third and are no longer in a promotion place.

A solid batting performance, which included runs from Scott Cooper (45) and Lewis Beasley (41), got the home side up to 248, with Nathan Johnson (4-27) and Matthew Bunn (3-32) the main wicket-takers.

Bunn also featured strongly in the run chase, making 59, but it was an outstanding unbeaten century from Jack Story (103no) which helped the visitors to a fifth straight win, and left the home side in a battle with Folkton & Flixton for the other promotion place.

The side from Filey Road moved above their rivals courtesy of a three-wicket victory at Dringhouses.

The home side's total of 155 owed much to a half-century from Chris Evans (53), who held the innings together as Tom Norman took 5-49 and Jamie Nesfield 4-24, which included a hat-trick.

Norman went on to cap a memorable individual performance by also reaching fifty as the visitors extended their unbeaten run, which dates back to May 27.

Harrogate kept alive their faint hopes of promotion by beating Heworth by 39 runs at St George’s Road.

Jordan Marshall top-scored for the home side with 41, but three wickets each from Steve Lawrence (3-13) and Finn Scott (3-25) restricted the home side to 146.

However, their performances were overshadowed by Ashley Griffin, who finished with 6-28 as the visitors were dismissed for 107, which included 30 from Chris Barrett.

Beverley Town’s chances of avoiding relegation received a boost thanks to victory against bottom side Selby, with the result owing much to a fine all-round performance from Peter Parnaby.

Three wickets for 28 runs alongside 3-53 from Joey Franklin kept Selby within reach at 221-9, in which Graham Phillips top-scored with 59 and Elliott Precious made 47.

Darren Hunter took 3-43 when Town batted, but Parnaby saw his side home with an unbeaten half-century after Ian Gillyon had made 38.

In the day's other two games, relegation-threatened Hull picked up useful points in a draw against east-coast rivals Hornsea, and Knaresborough took the honours but shared the points in a draw with Ripon.