STILLINGFLEET eased into the semi-finals of the Mitchell Cup by thumping Selby in the only HPH York Vale cricket game to finish in a rain-lashed weekend.

The sides had tied on June 21, but Sunday’s replay proved to be a one-sided encounter.

Saturday’s rain forced a move to venue to the covers-equipped Sandhill Lane ground at Selby. A heavy thunderstorm at 1.30pm meant the game did not get underway until 1.30pm in an agreed reduced 25 overs format.

Selby were put in to bat and despite dropping three catches, the disciplined Stillingfleet bowling attack dismissed Selby for only 51 runs in the 24th over. It would have been an even lower total but for a battling 31 by Steve Sherwood.

Chris Warner had great figures of 5.4-3-11-4, supported by Chris Woodfine’s 3-7 from six overs.

Stillingfleet lost an early wicket but Campbell Thompson (25no) and captain Phil Corfield (26no) knocked off the runs in an unbeaten 50-run partnership from 52 balls.

Stillingfleet will play Stockton & Hopgrove on Sunday for a place in the final at Acomb on August 17. Kelfield entertain North Cave in the other semi-final.

Hemingbrough and Bishopthorpe II will have to go head-to-head in the semi-final of the Scothern Construction Cup again after the sides were denied by rain on Sunday with the tie evenly poised.

In a match reduced to 30 overs a side, Bishopthorpe were given a great start by Colin Markham (46) and Stuart Watson (44), finishing on 151-8. Granville North took 3-51 but Andy Rowley, although wicketless, was the most economical bowler conceding only 16 runs from his eight overs.

Hemingbrough made a solid reply through skipper Leo Howard (39) and John Cockerill (2-20) but both fell to Jonathan Short before the heavens opened with the home side on 86-2 after 21 overs.

Ovington were left singing in the rain as they extended their lead at the top of the league without a ball being bowled on Saturday.

Bottom club Thixendale were unable to raise a side for their meeting and conceded the fixture which saw the division one leaders bank 30 points.

Torrential rain wiped out the rest of the top flight fixtures with all teams receiving 10 points, enabling Ovington to increase their advantage to 41 points from nearest challengers North Cave.

It was a similar scenario in division four as Selby II could not get a side together to face leaders Burn II while the rest of the fixtures were wiped out.

In division three, Dunnington, Yapham and Askham Bryan II conceded their matches against leaders Wheldrake, Bishopthorpe II and Stockton & Hopgrove II respectively because they did not have enough players. The division’s other two matches were lost to rain which also claimed all the division two fixtures.

So far this season the Vale League has lost 75 fixtures to weather – 15 in division one, division two (20), division three (18) and division four (22).