Easingwold and Sheriff Hutton Bridge lead the first division of the Pilmoor Evening Cricket League with seven points each after the latest round of fixtures.

Thirsk are third, a point behind, while at the foot of the table Newburgh are yet to pick up a point. In the second division, Huby are the clear leaders with seven points from four games.

Sheriff Hutton Bridge entertained Thirsk in a fixture involving two of the top three teams. Bridge batted first and Australian Kieran Rodgers (29) and long-serving Steve Crowder (46) took them to a useful 115 for 6, Paul Nicholson (3 for 33) and Andrew Styles (2 for 23) having good returns for Thirsk.

Lincoln McCrae then led Thirsk's reply with 64, but he had little support as Richard Coverdale (5 for 16) and Steve Glaves (4 for 6) worked their way through the Thirsk batting and the visitors were all out for 95.

Easingwold had a comfortable win when they travelled to Alne. Dennis Lawson (29 not out) and Tom Ryder (21) were Alne's top scorers, Trevor Smith claiming four for 14 as Alne closed on 95 for 6.

Paul Skilbeck then made 48 and Chris Hull 24 not out as Easingwold reached 97 for one.

Tollerton and Newburgh, who both went into the game pointless, met at Tollerton. Robert Taylor was by far Newburgh's top scorer with 43 but the rest of Newburgh's batsmen found life difficult against Richard Clark (3 for 12), Mark Hutchinson (4 for 9) and Andrew Charlton (2 for 35) as they closed on 91 for nine. Mark Hutchinson (45 not out) and Dan Copeland (40 not out) then took Tollerton to a ten wicket win at 93 for 0.

Stillington batted first when they went to Sessay. Wayne Linton made 31 but Richard Barker claimed 3 for 24 while Keith Till (2 for 12) and Joseph Joyce (2 for 5) also had useful returns.

Stillington were all out for 80 but Sessay had some early alarms against Matthew Coulson who took two for 16, before a partnership between Joyce (33 not out) and Ian Watkinson (25) took them to the brink of victory. Shaminda Dissanayake (2 for 7) claimed two wickets at the death, including Matthew Till for a golden duck, before Sessay took the points at 81 for 5.

In the second division, Huby posted a useful 136 for 3 in their 22 overs when they took on Crayke. Tom Piercy (51), Mike South (20) and Dan Grainger (41) all made useful contributions.

Crayke replied with 123 for 9, Paul Moore, playing against his Saturday colleagues, made 27 and Ian Dawson 29. Mike South had Huby's best return with 2 for 28.

Clifton Alliance's batsmen were in fine form at Raskelf. Jon Gilham (2 for 8) and Keith Hutchinson (2 for 22) emerged with credit for the home side. Raskelf's reply reached 84 for 4, Ross Hardy remaining unbeaten on 57, while D Reeve took two for 11.

Helperby, whose ground is under foot and mouth restrictions, travelled to Rowntrees and their young side made 46 for nine. Keith Burrows (2 for 4), Alex Ingram (2 for 6) and Richard Barker junior (2 for 11) all had great returns for the home side. Charlie Roberts with 21 then led Rowntrees to victory at 47 for 2.

Updated: 11:43 Wednesday, May 30, 2001