Scarborough romped to an exciting Yorkshire ECB County Premier League double over the weekend following up their eight wicket victory over the Yorkshire Academy on Saturday with a 36-run win over local rivals York at North Marine Road yesterday.

But it was a weekend of disaster for one-time title favourites Harrogate who lost to Sheffield United by six runs on Saturday before going down at Rotherham Town by 38 runs yesterday.

York had returned to winning ways in style with a defeat of Driffield on Saturday, and Nash Stone took five Scarborough wickets for 53 in 16 overs yesterday, restricting 'Boro to 186. Mark Cowell followed his century against the Academy with 47 against York.

John Cooke and Rob Flack took two 'Boro wickets apiece while their skipper, Nigel Durham, held four catches behind the stumps.

Then Marcus Wood, smarting at his lowly score of four against Driffield on Saturday, hit back with 47 against 'Boro, but it was in vain as Chris Clifford took five York wickets for 53 in 22.4 overs, leaving York's reply stranded on 150 all out in 53 overs.

Despite a return of five for 87 from Dave Crowther for Harrogate, Rotherham reached 228 for seven and Ben Scrivens then took five 'Gate wickets for 49, helping Town to a 38-run victory.

Peter Hepworth shook off his recent indifferent form with 85 before he was trapped lbw by Scrivens, although John Proud was clean bowled by Mark Smallman for a duck.

On Saturday, York had jumped over Castleford and Doncaster Town in the Yorkshire ECB County Premier League thanks to a much-improved performance against Driffield at Clifton Park.

It came after visiting skipper Mick Drury took the wrong option of electing to bat first after winning the toss.

Instead of going for it, they batted like snails against York's varied bowling attack, reaching 50 for two after 25 overs before posting 123 for nine at the rate of 2.23 runs per over as bored spectators talked among themselves.

The only bit of excitement came in the 18th over with the run-out of Australian Rod Gibbs as he and partner Rob Drury both collapsed in a heap racing in a mad scramble to make their ground with the score on 37 without loss.

Gibbs drew the short straw and went for 25.

In a much improved bowling and fielding performance, York kept up the pressure and by the 32nd over Driffield were struggling at 58 for four following a brilliant mid-wicket boundary catch by Rob Gilbert off the bowling of Rob Flack, who took three for 27 off 20 tight overs. Nash Stone took four for 37 off 17.

Half of Tom Pringle's overs were maidens as he stuck to his guns taking one for 37, his expensive last over ruining what otherwise had been excellent figures.

Nigel Durham was satisfied with Driffield's final score of 123 which York reached in 28 overs for the loss of opening bat Marcus Wood for four, Stephen Piercy and Simon Mason carrying their bats with an unbeaten second wicket stand.

Piercy had scored 46 and Mason lashed 64.

Elsewhere, it was all change at the top on Saturday as Scarborough leapfrogged the Yorkshire Academy into third place while defending champions Sheffield Collegiate regained the lead from Harrogate.

Scarborough skipper Mark Cowell scored 101 not out and shared a second wicket stand of 180 with Darren Harland (87) as 'Boro hammered the Academy (214-7) for the loss of two wickets in 46 overs.

Andy Gray took three Academy wickets for 65 in 19 overs and Rob Barlow two for 76 in 15.

Harrogate suffered their fifth defeat in 17 games when they went down by six runs at Sheffield United who defended their total of 206 for nine with six runs to spare.

'Gate set off in great form as John Inglis and John Proud chalked up half centuries, but after being 109 without loss they plunged to 200 all out in 50 overs as Zimbabwean Piete Swanepoel produced his fourth five wicket haul in successive weeks.