EARLY leaders Clifton Alliance and Thixendale continued their winning ways on their return to HPH York Vale League first division action following the cup weekend.

Thixendale secured a convincing win at Kelfield, as a maiden century from Fred Smythe - on a track with plenty in it for the bowlers - proved the backbone of their 218-8.

Kelfield’s reply fell well short at 98-8 as the Thixendale bowlers took full advantage of the conditions.

There were key wickets from Ben Brown (5-37) supported by Tom Brader and Ray Walker, who took two apiece to mop up the tail.

After Clifton Alliance slumped to 9-4, Jason Gatus (78) led their recovery with support from Matthew Simms, taking them to 149-7.

Their bowlers then stepped up to the mark to dismiss Stockton & Hopgrove for 106, Simms with three wickets and pick of bowlers Paul Moll (4-23) with four.

Ovington inflicted the first league defeat on South Cave & Brantingham where wickets fell freely all afternoon. Dominic Everard (3-17) and Jack Walmesley (4-14) set the pattern for Ovington as SC&B were skittled for 56. In reply, Ovington lost five men before skipper Jimmy Taylor (18 not out) saw them home.

After losing the toss at Yapham and being asked to bat, an unbeaten 74 from Ed Clarke plus significant contributions from Leigh Adamson (51) and Harry Cruise (54) saw Burn post another 250 total. Yapham fell well short in reply, Matthew Smith weighing in with three wickets as they ended on 112-8.

Bottom team Askham Bryan 142 fell short again, reply with 142 to Melbourne's 224-9, despite the all-round efforts of Faz Anzar (64 and 4-23).

Melbourne’s match-winning total was constructed around solid contributions by Tom Blackmore (62) and Ollie Steels (68).

Division two leaders Stamford Bridge travelled to Dunnington and soon had their hosts in deep trouble at 31-7 through the accurate bowling of Daniel Mosley (4-15), Des Healey (3-30) and Fenton Griffiths (2-6).

An eighth-wicket partnership of 62 by Ewan Davies (36) and Mark Arbon (17) took Dunnington to a still-below-par 93.

In reply, Stamford Bridge lost wickets at regular intervals before a calming half-century from Josh Moore (55) secured their victory by five wickets.

Hemingbrough’s good form continued as they made short work of knocking off Ben Johnson’s 98, Granville North (2-16), Charlie Brackley (2-48) and Steve Watson (3-22) doing the damage with the ball for before Brackley (42) weighed in with the bat to guide his side to a nine-wicket win in the 21st over.

Wheldrake came out on top in their bottom-of-the-table clash with Thorpe Willoughby, securing a nine-wicket victory as top-of-the-order runs from Mark Hamilton (71no) and Steve Rouse (40) backed up a strong bowling performance.

Pocklington were in command of their fixture against Sessay, running out winners by a hefty 162 runs.

Liam Serginson (41), Alex Smith (35) and young Archie Wilcock (77no) were on form for the bat, while the Willimans each bagged three wickets as the Sessay reply subsided. Only Andy Dawson (4-49 and 30) made a significant contribution for Sessay.

Clifton Alliance (83-3) also had a comfortable victory against Hirst Courtney (81) with runs from Fran Banerjee (24no) after 15-year-old Freddie Mills and 13-year-old Jacob Rymer had both taken 2-6 to dismiss Hirst cheaply.

Burn recorded their fifth straight league win to secure top spot in division three with a ten-wicket turnover of fourth-placed Selby.

Dan Robinson (3-23), Phil McVicker (2-19) and Mark Webster (2-11) did the damage with the ball, enabling the Burn openers Adrian Huetson (39no) and Tom Harland (56no) to make quick work of the victory.

A maiden century by Mark Dwyer was the feature of Ovington’s narrow victory over a spirited Bishopthorpe side. Pocklington secured victory against bottom side Heslington, with second-placed Thorpe Willoughby convincing victors on their visit to Stamford Bridge.

Press players of the week: Fred Smythe of Thixendale and Mark Dwyer of Ovington both recorded their maiden York Vale League centuries with the exact same score of 106.