FOURTH division champs Acomb II have made a fine start to their division three campaign and head the table after recording a 57-run win at Wilberfoss.

Richard Clayton 59 hit a half century and Rob Littlewood 30 helped Acomb to 154 all out with John Room taking 3-63 for the hosts. Phil Stothard then made 28 but Dave Stroughair was the destroyer with 5-15 as Foss fell for 97.

Stillington have still to gain a batting point following their dismissal for just 60 at Bolton Percy who eased to a decisive nine wicket win. Youngster Shaun Speck 24 was the sole Stillington success as Adelaide-based Jamie Snewin claimed 6-23 and Ali Rigby 3-34. Dave Russell 27 was the sole Bolton casualty with Jamie Rigby making 28no.

After their poor showing of last week, Bubwith bounced back in fine style to take the full 30 points from their home encounter with Heworth.

A good all-round batting display for the home side was headed by Richard Hunter who made 58no. Other runs came from Richard Van Dyke 36, Brian Last 35, Chris MacLaren 34 and D Curtis 26. Hunter then continued to impress with 3-35 while Dave Stephenson took 4-49 to reduce Heworth to 82 all out of which Simon Parkinson scored exactly half.

Pickering had a good home win over New Earswick after successfully chasing a visiting score of 176-7. Earswick's runs came from James Routledge 45, John Hetherton 27, Cristian Soulsby 26no and Kevin Barker 26 while Will Curtis took the first half bowling plaudits with a spell of 6-58.

After the interval, Chris Nicholls 47, Andy Hill 45 and Ian Johnson 42 put the hosts in a strong position. Paul Stimpson 3-69 and Martin Hewitson 3-42 posed some problems but Robert Aconley senior steered his side to a four-wicket win with an unbeaten 35.

At Woodhouse Grange, John Myers hit 60 and John Thornton 58 in Clifton Alliance's 205-7 before Russ Bilton made 35 in a passive Grange response of 91-6.

With their ground unavailable due to football, Malton switched their fixture with Yapham to their opponents ground but no play was possible due to the waterlogged state of the East Riding side's pitch.

Hanley in

the groove

CIVIL Service have started the season on a high following their relocation to Heslington and find themselves top of division four after gaining a profitable draw against Huby.

Darren Hanley, a centurion the previous week, seemed likely to repeat the feat before falling for 85 while Nick Olney 29 and Andy Raper 31 ensured maximum batting points with a total of 212-8. Paul Moore had 4-32 for Huby but Mark Bradley stole the bowling show with 5-52 to hold Huby to 146-8.

Marcus Hollis destroyed Easingwold when his 6-29 had them all out for 95. Nigel Rippon then hit 68no as Darren Powell claimed all three Osbaldwick wickets to fall to earn figures of 3-37.

James Turner followed his record-breaking double century on the opening day with a more modest 27 when he was promoted to Thorp Arch's first team at Sheriff Hutton Bridge.

However, Arch were able to post a respectable 171-8 thanks to Chris Magee's 34 and Steve Raine's 43. Bridge skipper Dave Ellis took 5-37 and then followed with an unbeaten 30 to steer his side to a draw at 133-8 after Vic Klays had made 41 and David Coverdale 25. Mike Cole had 3-20 for the Boston side.

Malcolm Bowden hit 90 as newly promoted Selby made 222-7 at Whitkirk. Peter Hoyle helped with 50 as Simon Bowman took 3-49 for home side Whitkirk but then saw his side wiped out for 122 despite 70 from John Leece.

Updated: 11:34 Monday, May 03, 2004