THE opening day of the Hunters York & District Senior League belonged to the bowlers, with at least one in every match taking four or more wickets, and no side posting a total in excess of 200.

Easingwold secured a long-awaited victory, while Malton & Old Malton and York also made winning starts.

There was no sign of any hangover from the disappointment of last season's relegation as Easingwold brushed aside the challenge of Pickering at Back Lane.

Paul Skilbeck's four wickets came at a cost of just seven runs as the visitors were bundled out for only 63, and the home side wasted no time in chasing down their target, needing less than 16 overs to record their first league victory since September 2016, with Stephen Piercy leading the way with an unbeaten 39.

Bolton Percy, who avoided relegation at the end of last season following the merger of the two Hull sides, were bowled out for 100, Harrison Wood (4-34) putting Malton & Old Malton in charge.

Ali Rigby (42) contributed a large percentage of the visitors' total and despite Tom Anderson's (4-47), Tom Bumby guided the hosts to maximum points with an unbeaten 39.

Four wickets each for York's Oliver Leedham (4-31) and Matthew Hodsdon (4-19) helped dismiss Beverley Town for 119 at Clifton Park, despite 48 from Oliver Grantham and Andrew Burton's 38.

The home side did not have things all there own way though and it took almost 46 overs and an unbeaten 41 from skipper Nick Kay to see them over the line.

Folkton & Flixton took the lion's share of the points from an absorbing tussle with Dunnington at Pryers Cricket Ground.

Put in, the visitors made a slow start but through Will Norman (30) and Jake Hatton (36) things began to pick up, but five wickets either side of their partnership by former Yorkshire seamer Moin Ashraf meant that the total was restricted to 181-9.

The home side's response began well, with Jake Murphy (41) and George Drury (50no) seemingly setting them on the road to victory, but Tom Norman (5-47) stunned the hosts, who ended the match three runs short of victory with their final pair at the crease.

Charles Scatchard (39) and Dan Coad (38) gave Studley Royal the early advantage against visiting Whitkirk, who fought back through James Ineson (3-31) and Simon Webb (4-18) to bowl out their hosts for 179.

Skipper Webb opened the batting and made 42 but was the only one of the top seven to reach double figures, and at 71-7 the home side looked to be heading for victory.

However, James Malthouse (17no) and Michael O'Brien (18no) held firm for more than 14 overs to earn a draw, Dan Craven finishing with 3-26.

There was disappointment at Chanterlands Avenue North after newly- established Hull & Zingari will need to wait a little longer to make their debut after the ground was unfit to host the scheduled match against Driffield Town following the recent wet weather.