ONLY two games escaped the rain in the first round of the Horwath Pulleyn Heselton Cup.

Fulfordgate beat Westow by 58 runs and Wilberfoss met Bishopthorpe at RI's New Lane ground where Bishops won by 71 runs.

Danny Williams held the Bishopthorpe innings together with 47 while his colleagues failed to get on top of the Foss bowling, though Ian Mercer's late 21 helped them to 120-7.

On a wicket helpful to the bowlers, Foss found Mike Brown difficult to score against as he conceded a mere three runs from his ten overs.

Derrick Slack conceded just three runs from his six overs, while Derek Gardiner took 2-12 as the Bishopthorpe attack showed their accuracy.

However, the wicket taker and casual bowler who surprised everyone, including himself, with 4-27 was Williams.

Fulfordgate were given a sound start by Keith Pepper and Pete Fairburn but were pegged back by the accuracy of Colin Smallwood, who conceded 11 runs from his nine overs, and Dave Coverdale, who returned 6-11 from nine overs. A late flourish from Andy Smith and Ray Dodd helped them to 122-9.

Westow struggled against Dodd and Tim Wheeler and there was little respite when Steve Bygott and Gavin Cowley came into bowl.

Alan Aitkin and Coverdale rallied the middle order but support was lacking, the last four wickets fell for 14 runs leaving Gate victorious.

THE Prendergast Cup fared better with four matches being completed and in three games teams from a lower division made home advantage pay by toppling their higher ranked visitors.

Wheldrake, put in to bat on a dry wicket, reached 143 at Tadcaster Magnet. Skipper, Nigel Ashton, with a sound half century, and Paul Lees, 35 not out, were the two visiting batsmen to prosper against a five man attack led by Peter Dickens, whose four victims included two caught and bowled.

Colin Swann assumed the role of pinch hitter for Tadcaster getting them off to a rapid start with 35 in seven overs before being bowled by Neil Thurlow, whose five wicket haul also included two caught and bowled.

The game was evenly balanced with Tadcaster 84-6 when Dickens joined Alistair McKay and they took the score to 115.

John Ashton joined man of the match Dickens and safely steered the fourth division side to a three wicket win over the higher placed Wheldrake to earn a place in the second round.

Tadcaster's opponents in the next round will be Thorpe Willoughby, who similarly beat opponents from a higher league, Acomb, in a nail-biting finish at Field Lane.

Batting first Acomb struggled to get the ball away against a lively four man attack giving nothing away and Bob Dickenson was the game's highest scorer with 35.

Acomb hit back and Thorpe were in trouble at 4-3, lost another at 15, and at half way stage were 29-6 - Richard Carberry 3-13 and Phil Chaffer 3-17 taking the wickets.

However, Steve Craven (28no) and Neil Copsey (13) inched their way to the winning target and Craven hit the last ball for a match winning boundary.

Burn entertained Melbourne at Linnett Park and were in complete disarray at 28-7 and a very early tea beckoned.

Nigel Horsley and Keith Vollans gave the score a semblance of respectability with a stand of 42 with some effective hitting.

Tim Stephenson and John Chaplin put on 53 for the first wicket for Melbourne and the visitors cruised home.

Huntington recovered from an uncertain start against Ben Johnson to reach 122-7, mainly due to the contributions of the middle order of Mick Storey, Darren Willis and Tim Kniveton.

Ben Johnson were in trouble from the start as the Huntington bowlers gave nothing away. Storey took 1-7 from ten overs, Neil Harrington 2-9 and L Dunhill 3-7 to win by 73 runs.

HEAVY rain caused the abandonment of the Vale League third division game at Clifton Park with visitors Wheldrake 42 for three in the 18th over.

Third division side Elvington, beset by a shortage of players, have withdrawn from the league.