THE race for division two honours has gone right to the wire with Hemingbrough going back to the top of the pile after taking 27 points in impressive fashion from Scarborough.

Stamford Bridge took 26 points after bowling out Hovingham for only 113 and thus denying themselves the chance of stacking up batting points.

With Scarborough's ground not available due to their county commitments, the game was transferred to Saxton where the pitch proved to be a batsman's delight. The basis of Scarborough's 241-4 was a second wicket stand of 115 between Nicky Tubbs who made 61 and Luke Van Kempen who made 78. The coup de grace was then administered by Neil Fletcher who took just 29 balls to hit 54 and damage the figures of Gurav Singh who closed with 3-99.

Teenager Nathan Briggs made 39 to set Hemingbrough on their way then Maqsood Akbar hit 55 and Imran Malik 88 before the job was completed by Stuart Cox who made 25no to see his side home by four wickets.

At Stamford Bridge, the home side paid the penalty for dismissing their opponents too cheaply when 16-year-Oliver Pimlott captured 4-24. Only Nick Elliott 38 and John Mosey 27 made any show as Hovingham were all out for 113. Matt Beckett with 43no and Peter Milner 34 saw Bridge cruise home by eight wickets.

Having been dismissed for the division's lowest total earlier in the season, Rowntrees' batsmen recorded the highest total in the division when they plundered 304-6 off a hapless Castleford attack. Skipper Paul Horner continued his recent good form by making 76 and was well supported by Richard Tuite with 26, Gerry Capelin 46, ex-Heworth player Chris Mead with 45 and Dave Whittle who was unbeaten with 45. Castleford opted for a safe draw at 114-4 with Steve Tucker making 36 and Paul Hursthouse 43.

Crayke's visit to the seaside saw them earn the better of a draw at Bridlington after they reached 224-5 with Mark Hutchinson making 70, Mick Carr 47no and Graeme Dawson 28. Bridlington were never in danger as solid efforts by Haafiz Khalid (55), Steve Garton (29), Richard Lount (27) and Will Emmerson (26) saw them to 181-6.

Updated: 11:27 Monday, September 06, 2004