YORK Vale League cricketers have finally returned to competitive action after the 2020 league season was lost to the pandemic.

Defending champions Clifton Alliance continued their winning ways in the only low-scoring game of the weekend after dismissing home side Melbourne (55) cheaply.

Lewis Clark (6-20) picked up where he left off with the lion's share of the wickets as none of the home bats registered double figures.

Clifton (55-5) also found the going tough with James Coupland (3-11) bagging early wickets before Richard Marshall (19 not out) steered the visitors to victory.

Newly-promoted Stamford Bridge (260-8) started life in the top division with a thrilling two-run win at home to Thixendale (258-6).

Runs from Ollie Pimlott (85) and Dax Shutt (66no) put them in a strong position at the interval.

Never shy of a run chase, Thixendale responded to the challenge led by captain Simon Walgate (125no) and Jonty Gillingham (31), falling agonisingly short of a memorable victory.

Kelfield (188-8) and Ovington (187) also played out a thriller with the visitors sealing victory with their penultimate pair at the crease.

Ovington’s Will Johnston (108no) was another centurion on the losing side with Matthew Walker’s half-century the crucial knock in Kelfield’s successful run chase.

Ten-man Stockton & Hopgrove (178-8) had a one-wicket win at South Cave & Brantingham (177-8), for whom Harshal Deshmukh top scored with 70.

Newly-promoted Dunnington (155) lost at Yapham (174-9), whose Robert Boddy had a day to remember with 48 and 5-48 end the visitors' lower-order run chase.

Home teams dominated the opening division two games with wins for Burn, Clifton Alliance, Hirst Courtney and Thorpe Willoughby.

Pocklington (121-3) recorded the only win on the road at Ovington (120) after a devastating eight-over spell by third change bowler Robert Dover (7-34) set up the victory.

A high-scoring game at Clifton Alliance (220-4) saw an accomplished run chase by the home side led by openers Mick Wood (66) and Jake Mead (68), with junior Lukas Ruane (47no) completing the job of overhauling Heworth’s competitive 219.

Bolton Percy’s third and fourth teams both recorded victories in division three with Richard Musgrave (140no) dominating the fourth-team run chase against Selby (199).

Opener Krishan Parmar (70no) was similarly dominant for the third team's win at Pocklington (161-9).

Heslington (161-2) completed their run chase with 13 overs to spare at home to Stamford Bridge (162-5). Geoff Smith (59no) and Michael Thompson (44no) did the damage.

Player of the week: Robert Boddy, Yapham, with his 5-48 and 48 runs.