THE race for the HPH York Vale Cricket League title is coming to the boil with three points separating the top three teams.

Bishopthorpe hit the top after solid batting by Ross Kelly and Scott Reeves, who both made 38, took them to 165-9 against Copmanthorpe , whose Darren Hughes took 5-32. Hughes’ effort was bettered by Andrew Seager (5-30) who sent Cop packing for 80.

North Cave lost the leadership after only squeezing three points from their defeat against Stockton & Hopgrove. Jamie Ross included 36 consecutive dot balls on his way to 4-14 as Cave were bowled out for 76. Kalum Perera finished with 4-15 as Stockton & romped home by six wickets.

Ovington outgunned Hirst Courtney by 23 runs thanks to Chris Tune’s unbeaten 60 after his side were 71-4. Phil Alford hit 51 for Hirst.

Clifton Alliance leapfrogged Wheldrake to move off the bottom with Robert Slater to the fore. In a match reduced to 32 overs, he top-scored with 41 and took 3-44 as Alliance held on to beat Wheldrake by 13 runs.

Fulfordgate maintained their division two title charge with a nerve-jangling one-wicket win against Thorpe Willoughby, where they recovered from 42-6 to a match-winning 144-9 thanks to Dave Baldock’s career-best 53 not out. Lewis Smith took 5-41 for Thorpe.

Openers Jamie Agnew (62) and Chris Hyde (37) set Ben Johnson on their way to victory against Barmby Moor with a partnership of 94. It was bettered by Adrian Stancer (69) and Barry Shepherdson (34) who put on 109 for Moor’s fourth wicket, but Steve Wragg’s three wickets in an over ensured the printers triumphed.

Mark Grewer (5-11) and Paul Thornton (4-38) earned promotion-chasing Askham Bryan victory at Selby .

North Duffield crushed York by nine wickets in division three, Steve Miller smashing an unbeaten 113 from 92 balls for the villagers.

Joe Robinson also scored a ton for Thixendale, making the most of being dropped three times by leaders Heworth to score a match-winning 108.

The division’s third century of the day, 103 by Sam Patchett saw South Cave crush Welton & Brough.

Despite 72 from Nick Sherwood, division four pace-setters Pocklington were beaten by Acomb , whose Uragaha Saranga unfurled some elegant cover drives in his unbeaten 94.

Paul Newton’s unbeaten 53 and John Hughes’ 4-27 were the highlights of Copmanthorpe II’s win at Malton & Old Malton.

The experienced Granville North (50 and 5-18) was the star performer as Hemingbrough II won at Thorp Arch & Boston Spa to move off the foot of division four.

Yapham’s Jack Holman top-scored with an unbeaten 80 in the win against Burton Salmon, while Stockton & Hopgrove strengthened their grip on division six with an easy win against Thorpe Willoughby II.