Sheriff Hutton Bridge beat showers to go top of Senior Cricket League (From York Press)

Sheriff Hutton Bridge beat showers to go top of Senior Cricket League

9:49am Monday 30th April 2012 in York Senior League By Albert Pattison

THE Hunters York & District Senior Cricket League is experiencing one of the worst starts to a season in its 100-year history, with only 15 out of 92 games completed in the opening fortnight.

A total of 32 games were abandoned without a ball being bowled on Saturday to add to the 37 games which suffered a similar fate a week earlier.

That means 69 of the 92 games due to be played to date have seen no action.

The unexpected early premier division leaders are Sheriff Hutton Bridge, who had the better of a drawn game with Easingwold thanks largely to an impressive innings by 14-year-old Matthew Fisher.

Bridge had made a slow start in reaching 33 when the first wicket fell. That brought the Yorkshire Academy player to the crease to join his elder brother, Mark.

The youngster reached his half-century off 48 balls in his first innings in the premier division.

Brother Mark made 40 after the pair had put on just short of 100 for the second wicket.

The younger Fisher fell trying to force the pace after making 72.

Rob Pinder (25) and Paul Scaling (33no) lifted the total to 195-4.

Easingwold lost two early wickets to Mark Fisher, who claimed 4-33.

Martin Piercy made a solid 33 before former Huby player Mike Mierzwinski (55) and Josh Greenlay (41), a new signing from Malton, saw Easingwold to a draw at 166-6. The only other play in the top level was at York, where Dave Simpson (36no) and Russ Bower (18no) took the hosts to 62-0 against Goole before rain intervened. Division one side Acomb boast a 100 per cent winning record after a four-wicket victory over Harrogate.

Harrogate were dismissed for 114 as Acomb skipper Simon Browne took 4-36 in an unbroken 18-over spell. Opener Matt Dale then made 21 before his brother, Joe, steered his side home with an unbeaten 26.

York III lost at Beverley in division two after being dismissed for 148. Gary Fenton made 26.

John Vodden led Beverley’s reply with 76 in a five-wicket win.

Veteran batsman Des Wyrill hit an unbeaten 61 at the top of the order to help Thirsk reach 149-7 against Pickering, whose Lorcan Barker took 3-25 and Tony Evans 3-48. Colin Frank (50) and Mark Shepherd (33) led the reply as Pickering closed on 147-9.

All 20 wickets fell at Tadcaster, where Hull slipped to a 41-run defeat after dismissing their hosts for 155. Magnet skipper Phil Smith top-scored with 47, while Matt Richardson contributed 40. In Hull’s reply, Bruce Wetherhill took 3-24.

In division four, Barry Milburn hit 60 when Stillington took first knock at Pickering but his side were restricted to 122-6. Neil Cowton then led Pickering’s victory drive with 52.

Bolton Percy had a 34-run win over Dunnington in division six.

In Percy’s 160-7, there were runs for John Rossington (29) and M Howden (40no) as J Spofforth claimed 3-38. Dunnington were then 126 all out.