SESSAY are almost certain to be crowned Hunters York & District Senior League champions next week, despite coming off second best at home to Driffield Town.

A single point from either of their last two matches will guarantee the long-time leaders the crown.

A fine all-round performances from the visitors' Nicky Johnson ensured that the champagne remains on ice, albeit temporarily.

A half-century helping his side reach 203, and he was one of a trio of bowlers alongside Ollie West (3-38) and Sam Carver (3-34) to pick up three wickets as the hosts reached 158-9 in reply, Nick Harrison being their top scorer with 47.

For the sixth week in a row, the side which began the day in second place lost.

This time it was the turn of Studley Royal, with defeat at Beverley Town seeing them drop to fourth as they battle it out with Castleford and Dunnington for the remaining promotion place. A century from Tom Hudson (119) and Brad Dobson’s 78 helped the home side to 269, despite wickets from Charlie Scatchard (5-78) and James Clarkson (3-75).

Rob Mackle top-scored with 62 for the visitors but their challenged faltered thanks to wickets from Matthew Mudd (3-51) and Jamie Roe (4-34), and they were eventually bowled out for 189.

Castleford moved back up to second after they beat Whitkirk by four wickets at Savile Park. Skipper David Wainwright (3-38) and fellow spinner Eddie Morrison (3-38) combined to restrict the visitors to 154-7, which included 40 from Sean Pickles.

Connor Hyde scored 32 for the hosts before Conner Fisher saw them to the target with an unbeaten 43.

Dave Brent (5-24) and Harrison Mussell (55) were instrumental for Dunnington as they kept pace with their fellow promotion contenders with a five-wicket victory over already-relegated Goole Town.

Put in, the visitors could only muster 111 and, despite the loss of five wickets, the hosts reached their target in the 24th over.

Bolton Percy will be joining Goole Town in Division One next season after they were bowled out for 66 on the way to a 133-run defeat at home to Pickering.

David Greenlay finished with remarkable figures, taking four wickets without conceding a run, and Kieran Bowes bagged 3-18 as the hosts' innings fell apart.

Earlier, Isaac Christopher had top scored with 86 in a total of 199, which included wickets from Tom Anderson (4-31) and James Wilson (3-29).

York’s recent run of good form, which had seen them climb from ninth to fifth, came to an end as Malton & Old Malton secured back-to-back wins for only the second time this season, with victory at Clifton Park by five wickets.

The home side scored 185-9, with both Finlay Bean and Ben Robinson making 47.

Then Michael Lindsey did likewise for the visitors, but it was a telling partnership between Shaun Harland (59no) and William Spencer (31no) which proved the decisive factor.