GRAHAM ROBSON took his second five-wicket haul of the season as Burn ripped Askham Bryan’s batting apart in division one of the HPH York Vale Cricket League.

Robson produced superb figures of 5-11 from six overs as Askham were sent packing for 53 – only two batsmen making double figures.

Tom Jaros took a couple of wickets but could not prevent Burn wrapping up an eight-wicket victory by 4pm.

Ovington are just two games away from the title after making light work of Ben Johnson.

Paul Morrison (50) helped Johnson post 139. Openers Tom Cookson (38) and Pete Kelly (49no) put on 84 as Ovington knocked off their target inside 16 overs.

Westow kept their championship hopes alive by beating Kelfield.

Westow were bowled out for 184 with the wickets shared by Ben Atkinson (6-47) and Craig Lawson (4-34).

But Mark Earle (3-18) ripped through Kelfield's top order and at one stage they were 2-3. Only Chris Walker (60) got going as Kelfield closed on 127-9 in 40 overs.

It was even harder going for Wheldrake, who crawled to 84-6 against Melbourne, who sent down 13 maidens. James Coupland hit 41 as the home side knocked off the runs.

Stockton & Hopgrove got off to a good start against Clifton Alliance as Dan Fairclough bowled Ali Barton with the first ball of the game. But Ali Wray (88) and Josh Clark (58) responded to help Alliance post 200-9, Colin Gonsalves taking 4-13.

Stockton were bowled out for 80, with Clark, Matt Mellor and Jack Heartshorne taking three wickets each.

Promotion is within touching distance for division two leaders Thixendale, who hammered nearest challengers Ovington II by 206 runs.

Simon Walgate hit a swashbuckling 154 and, with support from Will Megginson (66) and Ben Brown (45), took Thixendale to 291-5. Ovington’s bowlers had kept it tight early on but shipped 185 runs off the last 15 overs.

Ovington were dismissed for 85 with Jonty Gillingham (4-16) cleaning up the tail.

Ovington’s defeat left the promotion door ajar for South Cave & Brantingham, who gained an easy 30 points against Thorpe Willoughby thanks to a brilliant 5-11 by Ben Scorah.

Hemingbrough eased their relegation worries by winning at Yapham, who only had 40 on the board after 20 overs.

Mark Fairey dug in for 58 but Steve Hutchinson cracked an unbeaten 34 from 16 balls to push Yapham to 145-7, Ollie Turvey taking 4-35.

Yapham used seven bowlers to defend their total but could not dismiss Johnny Cockerill (91no) who saw the innings through with two overs and six wickets to spare.

Ollie Pimlott hit an unbeaten 74 to guide Stamford Bridge to a seven-wicket win against Hirst Courtney.

Bishopthorpe lost their 100 per cent winning record in division three by losing to Acomb. However, the victors included a knot of higher-ranked players which has prompted the leaders to lodge a complaint to the league committee.

A partnership of 104 between Ben Steward (78) and Graham Stansfield (55), followed by a brisk 56 from Will Edwards, gave Burn II a total of 235-3 against Thorpe Willoughby II in group 'B'. Craig Welford (33) and Sam Hinch (43) kept Thorpe in the hunt before they faded to 146 all out in the 33rd over.

Ovington III fielded an experimental side against Stamford Bridge II at Millthorpe and still emerged victorious.

Career-best scores for both Liam Herringshaw (74) and Jimmy Taylor (68) in a third-wicket partnership of 123 saw the hosts reach 200. Young swing bowler Jack Walmsley (3-17) and another Ovington debutant, Rob Wallace (3-31), helped restrict Bridge to 154-8.

Press Performance of the Week: Thixendale skipper Simon Walgate took his side to the cusp of promotion from division two after smashing 154 against nearest rivals Ovington II.