CHAMPIONS Norwich Union are timing their jump to top spot in the first division of the HPH York Vale Cricket League perfectly.

They faced a tricky task against Bishopthorpe, but Matt Couttie (57no) and John Jones (37no) added 95 runs for the last wicket to lift Union's total to 177-5.

Colin Markham (37) and Jason Whitworth (25) put on 73 for Bishopthorpe's first wicket but they collapsed against a Gawaine Hogg-inspired Union to bowl Bishopthorpe out for 151.

Second-placed Askham Bryan YPO kept up the pressure by overwhelming Stockton and Hopgrove. Dean Palmer (45), Paul Daniels (41) and 40no from Pete Wood saw Askham rack up a mammoth 198-4. Stockton were never in the chase and decided to consolidate on 70-5.

British Sugar had one of their better days against North Duffield. Simon Taylor stitched up the Duffield attack with 86, while his opening partner Clive Heaton added 49 in an opening stand of 137. After a mini collapse Sugar reached 184-9 with Dave Suddaby taking 5-20.

Despite the efforts of Roger Johnstone (55) and Paul Low (35), the Duffield innings never got to grips with the accuracy of Robbie Sanderson. He took 4-43 as North Duffield fell 32 short.

Fulfordgate doubled their wins for the season against misfiring Tollerton Outlaws. Mal Pepper was the Fulfordgate hero with 54 of his side's total of 140-5.

Tollerton got in to position to win thanks to 40 from Tony Raper but 12-year-old Max Henderson took two steepling catches and Steve Bygott's 6-60 wrapped up the game.

Kev Thomas' 34 took Drax to 160 all out against Westow whose Elliott Taylor bagged 3-28. Rob Kellock then smashed 48 but Rich Ounsley took 4-21 in curtailing the Westow reply 17 runs shy of victory.

High-scoring Ovington beat understrength Thixendale in division two, running up 200-6. Jamal Hussein top-scored with 61. Richard Johnson then replied with an unbeaten 80 but his colleagues were unable to match his enthusiasm and closed on 186-6.

Kelfield scraped to 147 all out against Hirst United, Steve Schofield top-scoring with 41. Kenny Winter took 4-38 for Hirst, whose Stuart Bennett hit 42. But a Martin Rhodes 5-74 haul kept Kelfield ahead by 12 runs.

Max Driscoll was busy for Burton Salmon in their game against Copmanthorpe. He scored 42 along with Simon Warner's 45 in Salmon's 130-6. Then Driscoll took 5-52 in Copmanthorpe's 101 total.

Wheldrake were indebted to Dave Kimberley's 61 in their total of 118 all out against Ben Johnson, whose Dave Snowden took 4-66. Carl Van Neikirk replied with 5-42 as BJ's were skittled for 69.

The battle of the top two in division three between Heworth and York went the way of the Elm Park Way side.

Heworth struggled to 127-6, Mal Caddie top-scoring with 35no. Jerry Dunnington then took 4-29 as only York opener Matt Boyle (23) and 22 extras took York close, but they fell eight runs short.

Drax could only manage 71-7 against Clifton Alliance, whose Paul Thorpe took 4-37. However, it proved to be enough as Paul Barnes (6-15) and Jerry Worley (4-11) bowled out Clifton for only 47.

University of York Staff skipper Rich Waites' prolific season continued against Askham Bryan YPO. He hit 46 in his side's 131-9. Mike Hodkinson took 5-29 for Askham. Waites then bowled six of his seven victims in figures of 7-8 as Askham fell from 45-0 to 82 all out.

Jamie Middleton took 4-34 for Wistow against Thorpe Willoughby. Kevin Murphy hit 55no as Wistow cruised past Thorpe's 123-9 for the loss of three wickets.

Bishopthorpe's consistent veteran Mike Brown took 5-15 from 20 overs against Burn. His sidekick Paul Coulson took 4-36 as Burn collapsed to 55-9. Chris St Clair Wicker hit 40 as Bishopthorpe won by nine wickets.

There was a nine-a-side game in division four between Huntington and Pocklington which resulted in victory for Huntington. They hit 172-7 with Dave Walton hitting 51, Stu Watson 45no and Mark Rose 45. Pocklington relied on Mal Harrison's 38no to reach 81-7 as Stu Watson took 4-41.

Heworth's Archie Woodhead grabbed 5-22 against Tadcaster Magnet. James Leaning then hit 51 as Heworth passed Tadcaster's score of 93 to win by eight wickets.

Malton and Old Malton fell victim to Selby's James Barr. His 4-24 saw Malton shot out for 101. Gary Wright (43no) and Jeff Knight (33no) then eased Selby home by nine wickets.

Melbourne were destroyed by Acomb's Peter Mitchell (3-1) and Dave Copley (3-15). They managed just 45 and were thrashed by nine wickets.

Division five new boys Sheriff Hutton defeated champions Ovington with Tony Fisher taking 4-8 as Ovington were all out for 87. Craig Dodsworth's defiant 39 helped Sheriff limp over the line by two wickets. Joe Stearman took 3-7 and his brother, Jack, took 4-24.

Paul Newton struck 45 for Copmanthorpe against Stockton and Hopgrove, whose 12-year-old Mark Dobson took 3-33. Cop's Liam Elliker then rampaged his way to 6-23 as Stockton were beaten by 76 runs.

Thorpe Willoughby got the rough end of a seven-wicket beating by Wheldrake. Harry Codling (5-9) helped bowl out Thorpe for 51.

sport@ycp.co.uk

Updated: 09:52 Thursday, September 02, 2004