YORK laid down an early marker as the Horwath Pulleyn Heselton York Vale League got underway.

In a narrow 12-run win at Hemingbrough in the first division York's 173-7 owed much to a sparkling 117 from David de Silva, a former Leicestershire Colt, who batted for just 113 balls and struck five sixes and 15 fours.

Hemingbrough were well in the

game at 87-3 with Damion Sharpe hitting a half century but the return of Simon Hall (4-52) and S Jones (5-48) swung the game York's way.

Burn's top order made good contributions to their 166 against Drax but it should have been higher as they were well set at 123-3, all three victims being caught by Daz Brinded. The last four wickets fell for one run.

Drax lost opener James Brook for a second-ball duck, but this was the last success the Linnetts had as Powell (97) and Thomas (35) led the Drax victory charge.

Put into bat on a rain-affected wicket Stockton and Hopgrove made slow progress against Bishopthorpe, whose Chris Markham took 3-15 from eight overs. Steve Fraser top scored for Stockton with 37 helping his side to 129-7.

Bishopthorpe's Will Reynolds took full advantage of an easing wicket to carry his bat for 74 to underpin a six-wicket win.

York Post Office were given a rude awakening to life in the top division, hustled out for 65 on a lively wicket.

They lost their first three wickets without a run on the board to Ian Holmes and Graham Haigh. Skipper Ray Baggaley and James Ledgeway were the only two batsmen to make double figures.

Jon Goodway raced away with an unbeaten 40 as Ovington won at a canter.

Two teams promoted to the second division clashed at Copmanthorpe where visitors North Duffield came out on top.

Duffield openers David Beilby (58) and Lee Wild (52), back at his home club, put on 92. Progress was more sedate after that as the innings closed on 183-7.

Copmanthorpe lost their first six wickets for 74 and although John Hughes made 46, Duffield emerged victorious. Trevor Britain took 4-34.

Paul Thorpe held the Clifton Alliance innings together with a sound 68 as Alliance made 152-6 against Fulfordgate.

Fulford reached 21 before the openers were parted but it then became a procession as eight wickets fell for the addition of 23 runs. Gavin Cowley and Tim Wheeler staged a late rally, each reaching double figures as Clifton ran out winners by 84 runs.

Bill Roddham and Paul Walton took three wickets each and there were a couple for 15-year-old Dean Bryon on his senior debut.

Westow won at Thorpe Willoughby winning by 61 runs but it wasn't all plain sailing.

They made 148-7 with the main contributions coming from Rob Kellock (56), in his first game since moving from Bridlington, and Andy Hutchinson (38). Dave Watson took 4-33.

Dave Coverdale's 4-17 from 16 overs and Mark Earle's 4-27 ensured Thorpe found it hard to get the ball off the square.

British Sugar had to work hard for their win at home to Heworth on a slow wicket.

Steve Bellerby shored up the Sugar innings with an unbeaten 44 as they reached 150-7.

Heworth, although falling behind the required run rate, defended their wickets well. John Bonarious adopted the anchor role with 38 but the overs ran out with Heworth at 119-6. Wayne Bellerby conceded 17 runs from 14 overs.

Thixendale returned to their home ground in style with a nine-wicket win over Wheldrake.

The visitors lost opener Nigel Exton with the score at nine and incoming batsman Richard Rymer needed hospital treatment as he was hit in the eye.

Momentum was lost for a while but picked up later thanks to Nigel Ashton (44), Harry Codling (27) and (22no) from Paul Rhodes which lifted the score to 131-6.

Thixendale skipper Adrian Brader (42) and Ken Milner put on 64 before the latter retired with an ankle injury. Mike Walker (33no) and Lindsey (25no) completed the victory.

Ben Johnson beat Woodhouse Grange by 73 runs in division three after posting 184-9. Scott Carlton topped the scoring with 40.

Apart from a second-wicket partnership between Andy Kenny and John Henley, Grange hardly threatened with Neil Drew, coming on at third change, taking 4-20 as the Grange slipped to 110-9.

Tollerton beat York University Staff after recovering from 82-3 from 30 overs.

At that stage, Stephen Raper (50), Tony Raper (29) and Peter Clarke (38no) hit out with 89 coming off the last ten overs. Staff XI, chasing 171, struggled against Raper (4-34 from 20 overs) and Mick Richardson (3-22). But debutant Peter Crossland hit 18no to deny Tollerton all the points.

Kelfield enjoyed a four-wicket win on a difficult wicket at Melbourne. Ian Mouncer (43) and Jon Clark (35) put on 73 for the fourth wicket but the introduction of Martin Rhodes (5-55) saw them crumble to 122.

Kelfield lost their first wicket without a run on the board but recovered well with Phil Smith (46) and skipper Neil Atkinson (24) setting them on their way to victory despite the seven-man Melbourne attack.

It was a bowlers' paradise at Home Farm where hosts Stillingfleet were routed for 38 by Hirst United after electing to bat. Ian Kirkpatrick, aged 17, made 24 out of the total as Adrian Brine took 4-15 and Mark Miller 6-21.

Hirst lost three early wickets to Chris Woodfine but three sixes and a four by Russell Stones sent Hirst home happy.

John Dale carried his bat for a chanceless 86 as Heworth beat Selby by 32 runs in division four.

Heworth posted 163-3 and although runs by S Rowbottom, S Smith, T Wain and veteran Ian Armstrong kept Selby in the game they fell short against Tyrone Oliver (4-54) and Terry Fannon

(4-16).

An excellent game on a superb Ovington track saw 368 runs scored and a result achieved with just two balls to spare.

Visitors Huntington ran up 182-4 with Stu Watson making 71no. Alan Fletcher led the Ovington reply with a well timed 62 while Peter Roberts' 32 and a flourish from Carl Welch sealed victory.

Burn gained revenge for their first team's defeat by beating Drax by five wickets despite the all round performance of Paul Smith.

He followed his half century in Drax's 135-7 with 3 for 30 but it was not enough. Geoff England, having taken 3-28, gave Burn an ideal start with Andy Huetson, who also scored a half century, but Drax gave away far too many extras to remain in contention.

Burton Salmon recovered from losing both openers for four runs to amass the day's top score of 196-7 against Acomb thanks to David Olde (87), Colin Driscoll (35) and Alistair Byrne (43).

Acomb went for the runs with openers Richard Carberry (28) and Ben Wallace (48) putting on 74 but the innings lost impetus before Phil Chaffers and Kevin Crawford came together at 113 and added 49 for the fifth wicket. But they could not match the required run rate as Burton won by 36 runs.

Updated: 12:19 Thursday, May 02, 2002