OVINGTON are celebrating their first HPH York Vale Cricket League title for 15 years.

A four-wicket win against Hirst Courtney secured the crown, while Bishopthorpe finished runners-up for the second successive year.

Needing 176 for victory, Ovington openers Tom Ashby (48) and Tom Cookson (39) took 48 from the first six overs on their way to a stand of 83.

Pete Kelly (34) continued the good work and a single from former Bishopthorpe man Paul Mizon tied the scores before four byes completed the win.

Bishopthorpe, unbeaten in the second half of the season, beat Hemingbrough, the last side to lower their colours, by six wickets.

Relegated Askham Bryan ended the season in style as their 15th different opening partnership this summer, Adrian Speakman (76no) and Dave Sladen (59), put on 99 on the way to 232-3 against Burn, who were shot out for 87.

Low scores on wickets affected by the previous day’s rain were the feature of several games with Stockton & Hopgrove making only 55 against North Cave and Fulfordgate shot out for 73 against Kelfield. Martyn Rhodes hit a career-best 87, took 3-15 and held two good catches for Kelfield.

Thixendale and North Duffield tied in division two which saw Dale become champions and Duffield promoted after contenders Clifton Alliance lost a high-scoring game against Heworth II.

Needing 146 to win, Dale’s seventh-wicket pair scrambled two runs off the last ball to earn a 15-point tie.

Alliance seemed in control at tea against Heworth with 227-4 on the back of Simon Cook’s 119, but Heworth, aided by dropped catches and a rapid unbeaten 73 by Greg Sykes, clinched victory with one delivery remaining.

Selby skipper Aiden Pearce smashed 63 not out to secure his side a 22-run win at Westow, whose captain Mark Earle completed an excellent season with 73.

An unbeaten 72 by Martyn Reynolds earned Ben Johnson a comfortable win at Wheldrake.

With Melbourne already having won division three, Stillingfleet took the other promotion slot by hammering Copmanthorpe by eight wickets. Cop were bowled out for 104 in the 37th over and the runs were quickly knocked off with Chris Gill still at the crease on 43.

Dunnington blew the chance of division four silverware as they imploded against Stockton & Hopgrove II.

Requiring only a handful of points to finish top, they gained none after their nine-player team was bowled out for a feeble 26, Pat Durkin leading the way with 3-8.

That left the door open for Hemingbrough II, who took maximum points against Bishopthorpe II.

Rob Peet top-scored with 43 in a ’Brough total of 193-8, which featured 5-52 for John Latimer. Stuart Watson (74) led the Bishops’ run chase but three wickets in an over by Granville North (4-38) broke the back of the innings and Hemingbrough won by 25 runs.

Stamford Bridge’s Des Healey took a season’s best 6-11 on a tricky wicket at Burythorpe to see off Heworth II, and Michael Plevin smashed 115 as Yapham won at Burton Salmon.


Press performance of the week

Simon Cook for his 119 for Clifton Alliance against Heworth, although it proved in vain as his side’s division two promotion bid failed.