STOCKTON & Hopgrove recorded their first HPH York Vale Cricket League win of the season at the eighth attempt.

They beat fellow strugglers Ben Johnson by six wickets to leave both sides joint bottom of division one on 74 points.

Richard Kerrison was the star, taking 4-37 as the printers were restricted to 158. He then scored 92 not out to see Stockton home with more than eight overs left.

At the other end of the table, leaders Ovington had to dig deep to edge Wheldrake by one wicket.

Anthony Carter (108) put on 85 with Ben Challis (46) as Wheldrake totalled 205-6.

Ovington were always ahead of the run rate but lost wickets regularly with leg-spinner Mark Cass taking 4-34. Barry Steel (46) was caught with two still required but last man Ben Busby scampered the required runs.

Second-placed Westow kept up the pressure by defeating Clifton Alliance.

Andrew Welford cracked an unbeaten 118, sharing in an opening stand of 92 with Mark Earle and an unbroken stand of 88 with Matthew Shipley (32no) as Westow totalled 213-2.

Jake Atkinson (81) lifted Clifton’s score from 74-4 to 157 but the innings petered out to 179-8 at the close.

A partnership of 120 between Steve Drake (80) and Ujwal Bhagwat (36) helped Askham Bryan to 197 all out against Kelfield, who crashed to 18-4 in reply, Pete Wood taking all four wickets.

A stand of 143, though, between Jamie Wheeler (57) and Neil Atkinson (98) took Kelfield to within sight of victory, which was sealed in the penultimate over. Wood finished with 5-30.

Leigh Adamson hit 121 in Burn’s victory at Melbourne, who were left to rue dropping a string of catches. He shared a 113-run partnership with Sam Edwards (36) as Burn ended on 230-8.

Melbourne finished well short, Matt Smith taking 5-40, included two excellent caught and bowled efforts.

Thixendale show no signs of taking their foot off the gas at the top of division two.

Simon Walgate raced to 62 against Hemingbrough and, although Thix slid from 80-2 to 88-6, Karl Wallis (64no) got them to 195-9. Hemingbrough’s batsmen were blown away for just 44, with Ben Brown recording figures of 5-1-9-5.

Fulfordgate were hustled out for 125 by Ovington II’s eight-man attack.

Ovington lost just two wickets as James Eckersley (42), Sam Dixon (41no) and Harry Buckley (33no) knocked off the runs.

Thorpe Willoughby, whose pre-season signing Elliott Precious has re-joined Selby, beat Malton & Old Malton by seven wickets. Thorpe openers Andy McEvoy (43) and Andy Kirk (79) put on 110.

Thirteen-year-old Finn Baqui was the hero of Ovington III’s last-over win against Tadcaster Magnet in division three. Baqui (42) and Jon Souch (53) starred in Ovington’s 188-7. Tad required nine to win from the final over but Baqui (4-41) held his nerve, claiming a wicket and conceding only five runs.

Pocklington were in the mire at 51-6 against Thorpe Willoughby II before Mal Harrison (66) and Steve Relf (33no) added 91 to see them post 149-7. Young leg-spinner Henry Sumner bowled a devastating spell of 5.1-1-9-5 to earn Pock victory.

Dunnington’s young bowlers blitzed Malton & Old Malton II, who were skittled for 43. Max Wilson had figures of 6-4-4-3 and Ed Millington 6-2-7-3 to effectively end the contest.

Steve Bogie, who was playing his first game for 10 years, hit 35 in Selby’s 120-8 against Stamford Bridge II, who needed three to win from the last over with two wickets left.

James Hutchinson was run out with the scores level but 13-year-old Peter McFarlane hit a single from the last ball as Stamford squeezed home.

Press Performance of the Week: Richard Kerrison led from the front with 4-37 and an unbeaten 92 against Ben Johnson as Stockton & Hopgrove won their first game of the season in division one.