SHERIFF Hutton Bridge have sat atop of the Hunters York & Senior League Division One since the fourth round of matches on May 19, and for the majority of that time have had a seemingly unassailable lead.

But results over the last few weeks, culminating in a loss to Goole Town, means they will travel to second-placed Carlton Towers today knowing that defeat will see them relinquish top spot.

Despite having been on the wrong end of a number of drawn matches in recent times, what was actually just their second defeat of the campaign came as a result of being bowled out for 117, with Ben Lamb (3-21) and Kevin Murphy (3-8) sharing six wickets as only Harry Sutcliffe made any real impression with an unbeaten 35.

The hosts also found the going tough, but eventually won for a fifth week in succession, thanks to Ben Shelton's 49 not out.

Carlton Towers, who incidentally lost three of their opening four and were bottom when Sheriff Hutton Bridge first went top, produced a clinical display, beating Ripon by six wickets.

The visitors were bowled out for 130, with Robert Holah (4-41) and Matthew Torn (3-12) among the wickets.

Layton Hallam dominated the chase with an unbeaten 56 as the home side reached the target inside 24 overs.

Beverley Town missed the chance to go top as they went down by four wickets at Aspin Lane, with Knaresborough's Graeme Whiles the difference between the sides, taking five for 39 to restrict the visitors to 174-9.

Andy Ward (3-27) chipped in as Ben Fish (50) made a half-century and Will Parker (48) fell just short.

Dave Girling (56) and Greg Pickles (53) both posted fifties in the home side's reply, with half of the six wickets to fall going to Connor Bowden (3-26).

An unbroken third-wicket partnership of 159 between Andy Hawkswell (93no) and Will Topham (78no) guided Harrogate to a comfortable victory at St George's Road, coming after wickets from Lewis O'Donnell (6-44) has seen visitors Heworth bowled out for 184, a total which included half-centuries from both Paul Mosey (57) and Stephen Lawrence (66).

Back-to-back defeats leaves Heworth facing an anxious end to the season as they sit just outside the bottom three, with next Saturday's game at home to fellow relegation candidates Sewerby taking on extra significance.

Dringhouses needed less than 45 overs to see off the challenge of visitors Sewerby, who were bowled out for 83, with Tom Storr (3-27) and Mick Kenyon (3-10) in the wickets.

Opening pair Sam Lingard (48no) and Andrew Simpson (31no) wasted no time at all, scoring at almost eight runs an over as the home side raced to a 10-wicket win.

Richard Medforth's man of the match performance earned Hornsea victory at Pocklington.

In a game where a number of batsmen on both sides got starts he was the only one to really capitalise, going on to finish unbeaten on 82 as the visitors chased down 218 to win by five wickets.

He had earlier taken three wickets, alongside Glenn Ratcliffe (3-64), as the home side failed to build on Dan Croft's half-century, with James Fletcher (30), Ted Donkin (38) and Dan Littlewood (39) all getting out in the thirties.

It was a similar story in the Hornsea innings, the difference being that Ashley Mckinlay (38) and Joe Butterworth (32) finished on the winning side.