Nichols century is key as Lockton stroll to victory (From Gazette & Herald)

Nichols century is key as Lockton stroll to victory

Ryedale Beckett League

Division One

Lockton 156 for 3 beat

Hovingham 76 for 5 by 80 runs

TEN-MAN Hovingham were no match for Lockton as Chris Nichols hit 101.The Hovingham bowlers could not contain the player who already has a York Premier League century to his name this season. Nichols included 12 fours and five sixes in his delightful innings. Andy Hill gave good support with 46. Stuart Prest tried hard for Hovingham, conceding 29 from his four overs. J Mosey (24) was the only Hovingham batsman to show any resistance as James Boyes returned 1 for 9 in four overs and Les Welburn 2 for 3 in three overs.

Harome 118 for 5 beat

Duncombe Park 110 for 9 by 8 runs

Harome pulled off a surprise win over a strong Park side to show that the championship race is wide open this year. Dave Greenlay was the mainstay at the start of the Harome innings as he accumulated 32, while Charlie Marwood's dashing 40 not out proved to be the decisive knock for Harome as he hit 24 from the final over of the innings. In reply, Park seemed to be cruising at the start of their innings, but the brakes were applied by James Otterburn and the wickets were taken by Phil Marwood, who had a 4 for 24 match-winning return. N Wilkie fell one short of his half century for Park. Fifteen runs were required off the final two overs, seemingly not a very high target, but Harome's bowling was up to the task and they restricted Park to a miserly five runs.

Pickering 89 for 0 beat

Cropton 87 for 6 by 10 wkts

Aussie Sean Stuchbery contributed well with both bat and ball as Pickering easily overcame Cropton. Pikes won the toss and bowled first, with Stuchbery and Mark Shepherd bowling their spin with good economy. However, it was the youngsters Tim Hodgson (aged 15) and Robbie Thackray (aged 13) who bowled really well to restrict Cropton to 87. Hodgson finished with 2 for 24 and Thackray 2 for 25. In reply, Stuchbery was in excellent form with the bat and he set about the Cropton bowling, hammering a superb undefeated 61, which included no less than 12 fours.

Duncombe Park 140 for 7 beat

Cropton 58 for 6 by 82 runs

An opening stand of 65 from the left-handed duo of Mark Wilkie (48) and Brian Leckenby (19) in just over five overs got Park off to a brisk start. Useful contributions from the middle order, including 16 from newcomer Alex Boyle, 25no from Will Mallory and 17 from Andy Welford ensured that the target of 140 would be a tough one for Cropton, with just 13 overs in which to achieve victory. Craig Aconley with 2 for 30 from four overs was the pick of the Cropton attack. Opening bowlers Peter Richardson (1 for 12) and Colin Humpleby (1 for 6) conceded just 21 runs from the first six overs which effectively sealed a Park victory. Indeed, Humpleby managed that all-too-rare Beckett League phenomenon - a maiden in his second over. With the two Williams, Smith, Mallory and Alex Boyle all bowling with similar accuracy, Cropton were never able to offer a serious challenge and ended 82 runs short.

Division Two

Kirkbymoorside 107 for 4 beat

Settrington 106 for 9 by 6 wkts

Settrington's openers gave their team a good start, putting on 41 for the first wicket. George Rounthwaite scored a classy 54 but his departure started a spectacular collapse as they lost six wickets for just two runs. Some hefty blows from John Huntsman (16no) gave the home team a respectable score. Andy Collier ripped through the Settrington batting with a 5 for 28 return, ably supported by Neil Ward with 2 for 30. Despite losing two early wickets, the Kirkby batsman kept up with the run-rate throughout. R Clark was the mainstay of the innings with an aggressive 31 not out. Settrington's young bowlers performed well with Charlie Rounthwaite (1 for 12) and Tristan Midgeley (1 for 2) causing some scares, but Kirkby eventually hit the winning runs with three overs to spare.

Ampleforth 93 for 5 beat

Nawton Grange 92 for 8 by 5 wkts

Runs came slowly but surely for Nawton with Mark Rymer making 23 and John Hewitt 14. The Ampleforth bowling on the whole was very tight. A Shepherd returned 3 for 12 and A Thompson 2 for 18 as Nawton's run-rate deteriorated. Runs came freely for Ampleforth, with Burgess hitting 20 and Mike Dobson 22 not out. Nawton did tighten things up, with young bowlers Darren Palmer and Ash Windress taking a couple of wickets each. But Ampleforth judged things right and knocked the runs off with six balls to spare.

Kirkbymoorside 52 for 1 beat

Malton and Old Malton 2nds 51 all out by 9 wkts

Kirkbymoorside, who had been relegated last season, had no trouble defeating a young Malton and Old Malton side, thanks mainly to Howard Mudd. Mudd was in excellent form and the Malton side could not master him as he returned 5 for 7 in three overs. Support came from youngster Phil Ward (2 for 16). S Cass, with an undefeated 12, and Lester Parkin (11) reached double figures for Malton. Kirkbymoorside had no difficulty in knocking off the runs in less than eight overs. Dave Gardner batted aggressively for 27 not out and Andy Collier also carried his bat for 20. Philip Dodsworth (1 for 27) took the solitary Moorside wicket.

Whitwell 110 for 8 beat

Nawton Grange 54 runs all out by 56 runs

Despite an early breakthrough for Nawton Grange, Whitwell enjoyed a fruitful second wicket partnership between Mally Freer (20) and Bill Browne (36). Good contributions from Chris Creber (14no), Phil Ryan and a flourish at the end from an unbeaten Ted Harrison with the biggest hit of the day, still climbing as it left the ground, saw Whitwell post a target of 110 off their overs. S Clemence (4 for 34 off four overs) and the veteran Edwin Kirby (2 for 17 off three overs) bowled well for Nawton.Nawton Grange have a good mix of youth and experience, but despite D Smith (11) and J Hewit (12) making a good start, tight bowling from all the Whitwell attack restricted their run chase, with Ted Harrison taking 2 for 5, Chris Goodwill 2 for 15 and James Nellis 3 for 15.

Division Three

West Heslerton 111 for 3 beat

Great Habton 50 for 8 by 61 runs

Heslerton won the toss and batted first. Paul Nutt kept up his good form with the bat in the league making an undefeated half century. D Gallagher (29) also played well. Great Habton had little chance of knocking off the runs and they were well short of their target when the overs had been bowled. Nick Spink top scored with 11.

Clubs are reminded of the penalties for not forwarding results to the results secretary within the allowed time.

Updated: 14:14 Wednesday, May 14, 2003