CLIFTON Alliance made it four wins out of four to take the outright lead in division two of the HPH York Vale Cricket League.

Their 12-run win at Selby saw a triumphant return to action for batsman Mick Knowles, who scored a match-winning half-century in his first game for two years.

Knowles hit seven boundaries and a six in his 59 to see Alliance to 146-8 at tea. Spin duo Dave Brunyard (4-25) and Jamie Middleton (3-25) were the pick of the Selby attack.

The home side struggled to 46-5 as Liam Green (4-23), one of six juniors in the Alliance line-up, took early wickets. Steve Bygott and Josh Bean claimed two scalps each as Selby looked out of it at 92-8.

Middleton (22no) shared a 36-run ninth-wicket partnership with Matthew Leetham (14) to give the Sandhill Laners an outside chance but they fell just short.

At nearby Thorpe Willoughby, Heworth’s modest 120-7 was enough to earn a 25-run victory. Graham Hogben hit 64 as the visitors found batting tough against Lewis Smith (3-24) and Dave Watson (3-28).

Thorpe were blown away by 17-year-old Freddie Coughlan, who took 5-15 in nine overs. He struck twice before Thorpe had a run on the board and, with Martin Boothroyd weighing in with 4-37, Heworth pulled off a victory that seemed unlikely at tea.

The only other Saturday match to survive the heavy overnight rain was at Burn II where Yapham recorded their first win of the campaign.

Several home batsmen got starts but no one built a big score as young spinner Matthew Stubbs took 3-46 and the economical Stuart Wainwright returned 2-24 from ten overs as Burn closed on 150-8.

Mark Fairey (41) and Cameron Blair (20) added 64 for the second wicket to put Yapham in a good position. But father and son combination Ashley and Patrick Abbott took two wickets each as the visitors subsided to 93-6 to leave the game in the balance.

Wainwright capped a fine day with an unbeaten 33 to take Yapham over the finishing line without any further loss.

Veteran bowlers John Hughes (4-30) and Roy Atkinson (3-16) maintained Copmanthorpe’s 100 per cent winning record in division three at Acomb on Sunday.

The home side raced to 30 without loss in five overs, but poor shot selection saw them bowled out for 95. Openers Atkinson (36) and Paul Newton (26) put on 63 to set up an easy seven-wicket Cop win.

In the other Sunday game, Ian Hall made a big impact in his first appearance of the season as division four leaders Askham Bryan II beat Stamford Bridge.

Mike Baines scored 44 as Askham were restricted to 144-7. Dave Quick (4-42) and Des Healey (3-29) were among the wickets while Bob Hewitt bowled six consecutive maidens as he conceded only 11 runs in his nine overs.

A half-century opening stand between Andy Milner (38) and Neil Porteus (32) got Bridge off to a flier but Hall’s analysis of 12-3-32-6, supported by fellow spinner Prasath Manimaran’s 3-33 saw Bridge tumble to 123 all out.

Division five side Thorp Arch & Boston Spa II have resigned from the league because of a shortage of players.