LEADERS Bishopthorpe stretched their unbeaten run in all HPH York Vale Cricket League competitions to beyond a year after a nine-wicket victory over Ovington at Ferry Lane.

Ovington’s decision to bat first backfired as they slid to 34-4. A double strike from Matthew Riley (4-18) left Ovington reeling at 60-6 and they were finally bowled out for 106. Mike Dale (48no) and Scott Clapham (47no) never looked in any trouble as they saw Bishopthorpe home.

Cave maintained the pressure with a home win against Burn, who lost seven wickets for 28 runs and were all out for 91 as Jonathan Tomlinson (5-35) ripped through the middle order.

In the only other top flight game to beat the weather, Ben Johnson beat Stockton & Hopgrove, who only limped to 116-8 thanks to Sean Leetham (51) and Richard Kerrison (34). Graham Byrne finished with figures of 11-1-34-5 and Steve Wragg led the printers to victory with 54.

Clifton Alliance and Askham Bryan closed the gap on division two leaders Hirst Courtney significantly over the weekend. While Hirst's game against Westow was a victim of the weather, Askham Bryan won at Wheldrake and Alliance defeated Hemingborough.

William Moll was Clifton's star bowler with an analysis of 9-4-9-4 as Hemingbrough were bowled out for just 87.

Askham Bryan's bowlers did well to restrict Wheldrake to 114-8. The Askham response was built around 42 from Dave Sladen, who saw his side within touching distance when he was second out with the score on 81.

Ovington II opener Liam Herringshaw scored 51, his first half-century in 32 years of senior cricket, against South Cave & Brantingham. Sixteen-year-old Tom Armes followed suit, hitting 51 from just 41 balls in a total of 203-8. Cave were rocked as Chilean ex-pat George Payne, playing his first game in two years, struck twice in his opening two overs. Hussain Ahmed then claimed 6-29 as Cave slumped to 83 all out.

Rob Bielby (43) top scored in Stillingfleet’s 149 all out against Heworth, whose debutant Tom Wheldon took 3-34. Heworth were soon rocking at 9-3, but Rod Moorcroft scored a career-best unbeaten 67 and teenager George O'Neill (45) saw the hosts home.

Teenager Patrick Abbott (4-20) struck with an all-bowled hat-trick as Burn II beat Bishopthorpe II by 54 runs in division three.

Malton & Old Malton ended Yapham's unbeaten run thanks to 109 from Kevin Wilson.

Thixendale were bowled out for 151 by Selby II but Dale’s 13-year-old Guy Scothern, in only his second senior game, took 5-31 to earn Dale victory.

Stamford Bridge were in big trouble at 45-7 and 73-8 chasing Heworth II’s 111. The total moved on to 108-9 going into the final over. The scores were level when the final Bridge pair tried to run a tight single off the last delivery but a run out saw the game end in a tie.

Phil Wilson dominated Tadcaster Magnet's 93-run win against Ovington III, hitting 110 in Tad's 212-3, sharing a stand of 122 with Kevin Prudhoe (42no).

Performance of the Week: Youngster Guy Scothern’s match-winning 5-31 earned Thixendale victory against Selby II in only his second senior game.