YORK opened the new season with a bang as they blew away Driffield's challenge to win by five wickets at Kings Mill Road, thanks largely to the all-round fire-power of Robert Flack

Early season conditions, spiked by overnight showers often favour the seamers and Saturday was no exception.

Batting first, Rob Gibbs was quickly into his stride and, despite the loss of Rob Drury to Nash Stone, Driffield looked well set at 54 off 19 overs. That was until Greg How came on and had Gibbs brilliantly stumped by York's skipper, Nigel Durham.

This was a watershed for Driffield as Flack had replaced Rich Gilbert at the other end and took three wickets in his fifth over and followed it up with a wicket maiden.

Durham brought back Stone who took two wickets in consecutive balls. Leg spinner Tom Pringle and a run out applied the closure for a total of 96 runs.

But is wasn't to prove any easier for York as Marcus Wood fell in Andy Kirk's first over and, after 13 overs York were 46 for 5 wickets, despite a well crafted knock from Mike Mortimer.

Kirk had taken all five and things looked rocky for York. However, Linton pilot Dave Catlow and Flack stuck together for 28 overs of sensible batting to secure victory and give York an encouraging start to the season.

Ex-Driffield left-arm paceman Ryan Swiers starred for Scarborough on his club debut taking 6 for 35 to outshine Test partner Craig White (3 for 29) as Appleby Frodingham were hustled out for 110.

Australian Clint Heron (28) showed promise in the Seasiders' reply, but Neil Fletcher (25) saved them from possible embarrassment to steer them home to 113 for 7.

Harrogate never recovered from Pieter Swanepoel's five-wicket haul as Sheffield United won by three wickets at Bawtry Road.

The South African helped dismiss Harrogate for 109 but the St George's Road club fought back through never-say-die Dave Pennett and new Pakistani signing Khalid Hussain-Butt.

They had United reeling at 9 for 4 but just when it seemed Harrogate would waltz to a winning surprise, they were undone by Dave Burden's match-winning half-century off 38 balls in 38 minutes, concluding the match with a towering six.

Yorkshire Academy eased to a seven wicket victory at Hull who were shot out for a meagre 65.

The Hull batsmen had no answer to David Stiff, who took 3 for 14, and Chris Gilbert (3 for 13) while Steve Patterson chipped in with a couple of wickets. The Academy were never in danger as Jamie Ward made an unbeaten 22.

York's first round National Knockout fixture at Beverley was washed out by rain yesterday. It will be played next Sunday at Beverley.

Updated: 14:14 Monday, April 29, 2002