THE top two in the Hunters York & District Senior League premier division have gone toe-to-toe for almost the entire season but on the penultimate Saturday of term Dunnington finally delivered the knock-out blow to seal the title.

The visitors went into their match at title rivals York II having already secured promotion to the Yorkshire Premier League North and needing only to avoid defeat to be crowned champions.

They went one better and won by 69 runs.

York skipper Nick Kay applied early pressure, taking 5-41, but Luke Kilburn turned things around, making 69 in an eventual Dunnington total of 177.

The home side were soon under pressure in their reply and were all out for 108.

Iain Jarvis top scored with 38 while there were three wickets each for Moin Ashraf (3-25) and George Drury (3-21).

With second-placed York ineligible for promotion owing to the presence of their first team already in the Premier League, Beverley Town will join Dunnington in the higher tier next season after they secured a third-placed finish thanks to a six-wicket victory over Whitkirk.

It was achieved with just four balls of the match remaining.

Ben Hatfield smashed an unbeaten 161 to steer the hosts to victory, his opening stand of 149 with Harry Gamble (46) proving crucial as they chased a target of 267-8.

Sean Pickles had earlier starred for the visitors with 91, supported by Simon Webb (32) and Mark Murphy (45), Jamie Roe finishing as the pick of the bowlers on either side with 4-62.

Rob Nicholson’s 113 for Studley Royal helped to condemn Bolton Percy to relegation, albeit not without a fight.

All-rounder Charlie Scatchard hit 53 in Studley’s total of 270-8. Despite facing a stiff target, Jacob Green (85) and Tom Atkinson (70) provided the home side with the possibility of a second consecutive victory for the first time this season, but they were dashed by Scatchard (5-31).

The end result was a draw with the visitors last wicket pair at the crease.

Harrison Wood took 7-47 to heap more misery on relegated Driffield Town, who succumbed to a 77-run defeat at Malton & Old Malton.

Stephen Linsley (52) led a solid batting performance for the hosts, in which five batsmen posted scores in excess of 30 in a total of 229-7. John Searby took 3-58.

Only Jack Riley (39) made any impression in the hosts’ reply of 152 all out.

Michael Brown (30no) was Pickering’s hero as he guided them to a derby victory over Folkton & Flixton with just one wicket spare.

His batting exploits at the death following his 4-51 with the ball, which helped to dismiss the hosts for 191 despite the contributions of Richard Malthouse (45) and Will Norman (44).

Colin Frank’s 39 seemed to have been made in a lost cause with Jamie Nesfield (4-50) and Harry Walmsley (3-43) having taken control until all-rounder Brown seized it back.

Easingwold returned to winning ways after back-to-back defeats with a six-wicket victory at Hull Zingari.

Matthew Bunn (66) top scored in the hosts’ 186-9, Zak Wilson taking a fine 5-36.

The visitors never looked in trouble after Steven Piecy had made 55 early on, and Kyle Waite (57no) saw them over the line.