First division leaders Thirsk avenged their only defeat of the Hunters York and District Senior Cricket League campaign when they hammered third-placed Studley Royal in the match of the day - all but ending the latter's hopes of a second successive promotion.

The hosts were indebted to teenager Neil Laidlaw (61), whose second half-century of the Bank Holiday weekend and second-wicket stand of 123 with Des Wyrill (41) took them to 151-6, despite Andy Mackle's 4-39.

Studley's batsmen then capitulated to 44 all out in 37.5 overs against Thirsk's deadly duo of Dave Towse (4-18) and Barry Petty (5-15), Towse lifting his total in his first season with the club to 65 wickets at an average of 8.00.

The Ripon side are now 68 points behind second-placed Sheriff Hutton Bridge, who easily saw off lowly Pocklington at Moor Farm.

The Bridge batted first and made 243 before being all out in the final over. Ian Clish (68) again led the way, making his tenth half-century, while Adam Fisher (44), Steve Crowder (32), Paul Oldfield (52) and Mike Sinclair (30) underlined their strength in depth against the good efforts of veteran spinner Mike Newhouse (6-66) and Adam Iyer (4-90).

In reply, Martin Nesom made 27 but Pock were all out for 101, losing wickets with regularity against Dave Houldridge (3-34) and Danny Snowball (4-14).

A closely fought encounter at The Leys saw visitors York II get the upper hand in a draw with Osbaldwick.

In a game reduced to 33 overs, York made a challenging 171-5 with Brendon Ledgeway hitting 41 and Matt Hodson an unbeaten 43 as Andy Hall took 3-55. Hall then followed with 30 as he and Ritchie Carew (28) and Mike Raso (38) got their side to the brink of success only to close on 165-9 as Rob Harrison took 5-68 and Jason English 3-1.

Heworth boosted their chances of avoiding relegation from division three when they ended Clifton Alliance's last hopes of promotion with a nine-wicket win.

Paul Atkinson made 29, John Myers 26 and Mick Knowles 31 but Alliance were restricted by the father and son pairing of Trevor (4-18) and Richard (3-43) Walton. Another Walton, Dan, made 36no as he and Jim Preston (39no) built on Jonathon Draper's 32 to take Heworth home.

Dunnington's relegation woe in division four deepened when they lost by seven wickets at Civil Service to leave them 36 points from safety.

Tom Holvey took 3-49 as Dunnington struggled to 134-5, which was easily overtaken by the hosts as Will Phelps (44no) and James Chisholm (35no) wiped off the arrears.

Huntington boosted their chances of avoiding the drop from division five when they showed no mercy on a Hovingham side doomed to a speedy return to division six.

Huntington declared after 44 overs on 180-4, Ralph Bradley (39no) top-scoring, and Hovingham's ten-man side were dismissed for 81, James Edmondson taking 6-14.

Division six leaders Rowntrees flirted with defeat at Dringhouses before emerging with an advantage draw which leaves them needing just six more points from their last three games to take the solitary promotion place.

Youngster John Patrick (32no) was the only batsman to make a mark as Rowntrees were dismissed for 134 by Brendon Walsh (6-67). Geoff Smith (30) and Lewis Graham (48) then promised reward for the hosts, who moved to 80-1, before teenage spinner Matt Horner took 5-32 to peg them to 125-8.