YORK seized back the initiative with a victory over title rivals Harrogate in the Solly Sports Yorkshire ECB County Premier Cricket League.

The Clifton Parkers bounced back from their first defeat of the campaign at Driffield by ending Harrogate’s unbeaten record with a comprehensive seven-wicket home victory.

The reigning champions now have an eight-point advantage at the top of the table, although Harrogate have a game in hand.

Yorkshire youngster Jack Leaning was again a key figure for York, with his third century of the season taking his tally to 501 runs from only six Yorkshire League innings.

There were also four wickets each for spinners Dan Woods and Tom Pringle as the visitors were dismissed for 167 after winning the toss.

Jonny Moxon atoned for dropping a straightforward chance off Calum How in the fourth over of the innings by knocking back the opener’s off stump in his next over with the score on 30.

Alexis Twigg (31) and Vic Craven (38) then threatened to take the game away from the home side during a stand of 63 for the second wicket.

However, as York built pressure Twigg drove Pringle straight into the hands of Liam McKendry at mid-off. In the next over, Craven fell in similar fashion to Woods.

Andy Hawkswell lasted only nine balls before edging Pringle to Oliver Hairs at slip and three wickets had fallen for six runs and the score was 99-4.

Skipper Ryan Bradshaw signalled his intentions, striking Woods for four and six, but his fellow batsmen continued to be tormented by York’s spin pairing.

Richard Burcher and Hugo Peterson each fell cheaply and when Bradshaw, having made 17, drove a low catch to Leaning at short cover, the innings had subsided to 116-7.

Graeme Whiles (10) and Rob Stanworth (11) held up the hosts’ charge before both fell victim to lbw decisions and Ashley Griffin made a defiant 17 before he was last out, bowled by Leaning.

There were early signs that the home side might not have it all their own way when Whiles removed Duncan Snell and Hairs inside the first four overs, and Craven then trapped Liam McKendry lbw with the total on 38.

However, Leaning gave a sublime demonstration as he mixed watchful defence with severe punishment of anything loose. His century came up off only 85 balls and contained 17 fours and a six.

He finished unbeaten on 109 and Ryan McKendry played a fine supporting role, contributing 35 to a partnership of 133 which saw York home with almost 30 overs to spare.