Four of the games in the third division were played to conclusion with the thriller being Yapham's four-run win at Hovingham.

Dick Wright spearheaded Yapham's batting with 78 and was able to take his side to 161-8 despite a 3-35 spell from Stuart Prest.

Prest followed with 23 to support John Fairburn's 39 but the match-winner proved to be Jonathan Flint whose 7-60 in dismissed Hovingham for 157.

Hemingbrough's Mike Pounder grabbed victory from almost certain defeat when he captured four New Earswick wickets with four successive deliveries to earn a remarkable 5-1 in 4.4 overs.

Only Maqsood Akbar (26) offered any resistence as Earswick's Paul Stimpson (3-60) and Ian Helmsley (5-34) dismissed them for 118.

Andrew James appeared to have put Earswick firmly in command with 55 before Pounder intervened in devastating fashion and, with Akbar gaining 3-18, Earswick slumped to 96 all out to lose by 22 runs.

At Bubwith, the home side had to be satisfied with the worst of a draw despite a stand of 124 between Neil Readman (55) and Dave Birks (59).

Earlier, George Brown had made 64 and Nick Olney 39 to take Civil Service to 193-7. Readman and Birks then put Bubwith in the frame but Mick Bradley retrieved the situation for the York side by taking 5-67 to peg the homesters to 167-6.

There was relief among the Clifton Alliance camp when rain ended their encounter with Woodhouse Grange after they had struggled to 57-5 and some way off 174-6 target.

Woodhouse, themselves, had struggled early on before Russ Bilton (63no) and Peter Reeves (26no) steered them on. Dudley Cooper caused problems for the home batsmen with 3-15.

Pickering suffered a six-wicket defeat when they were shot out for 75 by Heworth

The best figures fell to Dave Walton (3-9) but he was matched by Dave Bell with 4-27 and Dave Bowling (3-15). Bowling then led Heworth's successful response with an unbeaten 45.

Heslington were in dire straights against Bolton Percy when their game was abandoned after just 35 overs had been bowled.

By this time the home side had struggled to 95-8, a situation which would have been worse had not Andy Ezzard made 48 not out.

Updated: 10:57 Monday, May 05, 2003