THE final of the Hunters York Senior League Premier Cup will be a repeat of last year's final when Dunnington will meet Woodhouse Grange at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, August 21.

Dunnington came within a hairsbreadth of losing their unbeaten record in the competition which stretches back to 1997 when they kept alive their hopes of a seventh successive title by beating Heworth by virtue of losing less wickets when the scores finished level.

Batting first, Heworth reached a more than useful 230-8 as David Simpson hit 89 and Richard Bowling 70. Dave Kitching was Dunnington's best bowler with 4-34 while Collis King claimed 3-48.

King was then the batting hero as he hit 95 with opener Hamid Khan making 45. Guy Wilkinson troubled the holders with 3-51 but Dunnington were able to reach 230-7 to squeeze through to the final.

Runaway league leaders Easingwold batted first at Woodhouse Grange and made 165-8 with Jonathon Marwood making 29 and Paul Redshaw an unbeaten 39 but this proved to be an inadequate total when overseas man Kamran Sajid hit a fine undefeated 89, which included 12 fours and a six, to build on Nick Hadfield's 36 and steer Woodhouse to victory at 167-4.

Last year's beaten finalists Whitkirk went through to the final of the Edward Readman Trophy at Stillington on Sunday, August 14 after a comfortable win over first division strugglers Ripon.

The Leeds-based side who lost to York II last year off the final ball took command of their semi-final tie by dismissing Ripon for 103 with John Colley claiming 3-11.

Stuart Clark was Ripon's sole batting success as he made 55. Whitkirk's eight-wicket win was engineered by Craig Shipton who made 35 and Aussie Brett Higo who was undefeated on 29.

Whitkirk's opponents will be Duncombe Park, the winners in the competition's inaugural year of 1999. Park beat Sewerby in a game which saw a total of 34 wides.

Park opted to bat first and made a rip-roaring start as Brian Leckenby 61 and Adam Rayner 39 helped them reach 100 in the 15th over. Colin Humpleby chipped in with 36 and their cause was also aided by 25 wides in a total of 32 extras.

Rupert Coates took 3-39 and Mike Rowing 3-53 for the coastal team who dismissed Duncombe Park for 224 in the 40th over.

Rowing then led Sewerby's reply with 58 and Joe Edmondson made 27 but their scoring rate was kept in check by veteran left arm spinner Edwin Kirby who conceded just six runs in his eight-over spell and Colin Humpleby whose similar stint earned him 1-15.

The visitors took 29 overs to reach three figures and were unable to pick up the tempo, eventually reaching 173-8.

Updated: 11:17 Tuesday, August 03, 2004