BISHOPTHORPE have been crowned HPH York Vale Cricket League division one champions for the first time since 2005.

Saturday's opponents Ben Johnson gifted them maximum points as they could not raise a team to fulfil their home fixture.

Burn slipped from third to fourth after a surprise 97-run defeat to Melbourne.

Joss Room (43) got Melbourne off to a good start and a 110-run stand by Matt Beevers (56) and Oliver Steels (55) followed, while 50 runs came from the last five overs with James Coupland on 40 not out. Mike Smith took 4-65 from nine overs.

Despite an unbeaten 60 from 14-year-old wicketkeeper Sam Edwards, Burn were never in the hunt. Wickets fell regularly to Ben Thompson (3-23) and James Coupland (3-51) while Scott Coupland bowled tightly for 12-2-27-0.

Westow moved above Burn into third, although their game against Wheldrake fell victim to the rain. Another century opening stand between Mark Earle (53) and Andrew Welford (121no) helped Westow make 232 but Wheldrake didn’t get to bat after tea.

Kelfield closed on 163-7 against ten-man Stockton & Hopgrove, whose score stood at 53-3 after 12 overs when rain ended their game.

Clifton Alliance moved second behind Askham Bryan in division two after an eight-wicket win against Hemingbrough, who were bowled out for 153 after being 69-6. The standout bowlers were Josh Bean with 11-0-55-5 and Will Moll with 7.1-2-25-3.

John Myers (74) and Owen Marshall (55no) enjoyed a 106-run stand as Clifton wrapped up victory.

Ovington won a pulsating encounter against Fulfordgate by four wickets.

Gate were reduced to 88-5 at drinks before Gary Bell smashed 50 to lift his side to a season’s best 208-9. Youngster Ralph Sinclair picked up 4-41.

Ovington struggled to 68-3 at halfway and, although Tom Armes hit 71 off 70 deliveries, wickets continued to fall and they looked outsiders with 62 required from five overs.

Andy Cole smashed 32 from 17 balls and Simon Rogerson 18 off eight to see them home with two balls to spare.

Stillingfleet slid to a big defeat against South Cave & Brantingham, who posted their biggest total of the season of 241-5, led by Sam Patchett’s 106. Paul Hawthorne ripped through Fleet with figures of 4.5-1-9-5.

Thixendale swept aside Burn II in division three, bowling them out for 79, leaving openers Geoff Room (39no) and Les Milburn (34no) to knock off the runs in 17 overs.

Thorpe Willoughby moved second in division four by beating Ovington III by five wickets. Jordan Leybourn (4-28) reduced Ovington to 35-4 before Harry Buckley (35) countered. He fell to Lawrence Stones (4-28) as Ovington were all out for 100. Thorpe reached their target in the 25th over.

Under-13s ace Henry Kay followed last week’s debut figures of 7-8 with another big haul, but it was not enough to give Yapham II victory against Tadcaster Magnet. Needing 112 to win, Tad were reduced to 19-3 as Kay took out the top three batsmen. He eventually finished with 5-22 but Ash Rowden (48) and Charlie Marr (36) earned Magnet the win.

Press Performance of the Week: Simon Patchett (South Cave & Brantingham) hit 102 in the win against Stillingfleet in division two.