SHERIFF Hutton Bridge II remain on course for back-to-back promotion, despite being held to a draw by Heworth at Elm Park Way.

The Hunters York & District Senior Cricket League division one leaders reached 161 before being bowled out by their hosts, with Alfie Oliver (4-44) and Martin Boothroyd (3-40) among the wickets as Dave Bradshaw top-scored for the visitors with 31.

The home side, who have won only one of their last seven and sit just above the relegation places, never looked likely to threaten the target, despite a half-century from Guy Wilkinson (51), and eventually closed on 119-8.

Carlton Towers, who like Sheriff Hutton Bridge came up at the end of last season, remain favourites to join them in the premier division next season after they secured a fourth win out of five with a seven-wicket victory over Pocklington, who slip back into the bottom three as a consequence of back-to-back defeats.

Half-centuries from Will Parker (51) and Rob Fish (57) ensured Beverley Town posted a competitive total of 167 at Ripon, for whom Jake Briscombe took 5-41.

Joey Franklin (4-34) replied for the visitors but the home side hung on with the final pair at the wicket to earn a draw, with Dave Henstock making 32 out of their 131.

Dringhouses' Andrew Simpson (92) produced the day's highest individual innings, just missing out on a century as his side were dismissed for 158 at home to Goole Town, with Colin Sugden (3-52) the pick of the visiting attack.

Ben Shelton set Town on the way to a seven-wicket win, making 65 before Ollie Ounsley (56no) saw them over the line with an unbeaten half-century.

Two sides threatened with relegation produced the game of the day, with the match between Hornsea and Sewerby finishing in a tie.

Remarkably it was the second time this season that a game involving hosts Hornsea has ended with the scores level. Despite wickets for Ashley McKinley (5-37) and Joe Butterworth (3-60), the visitors reached 235, with Lewis Beasley (56) and Mike Artley (63) making half-centuries and Steve Janney 45.

Opener Jonathan Fisher led the hosts' reply with 85 and Andrew Newington made 46, but after Daniel Conner (4-53) and Lewis Beasley (3-53) had shared seven wickets, it was left to the home side's last-wicket pair to secure a share of the points, and that was enough to lift their side out of the relegation places.

The day's other game was a battle between North Yorkshire neighbours as Knaresborough made the short trip to Harrogate.

The home side, who up until a month ago had been challenging for promotion, came off second best, going down by six wickets, a fourth successive defeat leaving them with a single-point advantage over their local rivals with both teams now seemingly destined to finish in mid-table.