FRONT-RUNNERS Burn and Clifton Alliance both overcame wet conditions to secure home victories during the latest programme of HPH York Vale League fixtures.

Seven games throughout the league were cancelled without a ball being bowled due to the weather, but Burn (82-3) enjoyed a straight-forward, seven-wicket victory against Stockton & Hopgrove (80) in a reduced-overs game after a rain-delayed start.

Three wickets apiece from Matthew Smith (3-21) and Ashley Abbott (3-10), followed by a valuable 41 from opener Leigh Adamson, were the key performances for Burn as they continued their winning run.

Kelfield gave Clifton more of a competitive contest after the latter’s 195-6 was built around significant knocks from Jason Gatus (58) and Lewis Clark (75no) with the visitors falling short by 20 runs in reply.

Jamie Wheeler (82no) anchored the Kelfield reply but it was the Clifton youngsters – 16-year-old Joseph Hodge (3-52) and 14-year-old Annie Brown (2 -12) – who claimed the key wickets and turned the game to help maintain their side’s position at the head of the standings.

Stamford Bridge came out on top against Hemingbrough in division two’s top-of-the-table clash to maintain their unbeaten league record.

Batting first, the runs were shared between all Stamford Bridge’s batsmen as they posted a competitive target of 203.

Hemingbrough (107) fell well short in reply, as veteran campaigner Des Healey (4-24) led the way for Stamford.

He was backed by excellent performances with the ball from 14-year olds Thomas Holmes (3-36) and Fenton Griffiths (2-23) to complete the 96-run victory.

Wheldrake enjoyed a welcome victory over Dunnington as the visitors struggled to 118-9 after losing the toss and being asked to bat first.

From 74-2, Dunnington collapsed as second-change bowler Hugo Southern (5-25), with the strong wind at his back, ripped through their innings.

Mark Hamilton (65no) led the way in the Wheldrake reply, with support from James Rouse (27), to steer his side home.

The top two sides in division three came head-to-head with Thorpe Willoughby ending Burn’s unbeaten run in a closely-contested derby at Field Lane.

Batting first, Burn raced to 73 without loss before skipper Bob Adamson (52) was bowled by 14-year-old debutant spinner Ed Hutchinson (2-36), who went on to remove Vaughan Lindley (31) in his tidy eight-over spell.

Assisted by two stumpings from keeper Tony Hinch, spinner Bobby Moore (3-40) weighed in with further wickets, supported by good fielding from the Thorpe side, including a brilliant direct-hit run out by Paul Kirkby to dismiss John Hanshaw.

Dave Bramley contributed a battling 29 for Burn, who ended on a below-par 165-8.

The Thorpe reply started brightly and, after Kirkby was forced to retire hurt, youngster Hutchinson (40) joined opener Pete Wilson (73no) to build a crucial partnership of 89.

After a short rain delay, Thorpe headed into the final stages of their innings needing six an over for victory.

Skipper Tony Hinch (24no) then led from the front, hitting three consecutive boundaries in the 36th over off the excellent opening bowler Graham Robson to tip the game their way.

Thorpe went on to secure a hard-earned victory with just three balls to spare to go top of the table.

Electing to bat first on a wet wicket, Bishopthorpe (67) failed to deliver a competitive target for visitors Bolton Percy (68-0) who romped to a ten-wicket win.

The pick of the Percy bowlers was Max Thomas (4-10) with Bob Taylor’s assured innings of 40 not out seeing them comfortably home.

Player of the Week: Wheldrake’s Hugo Southern for his 5-25 haul against Dunnington